By Bishop Ann Svennungsen
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” As many congregations make their way through Year C and the Gospel of Luke, these verses from chapter 4 are foundational. They are Jesus’ mission statement: “The Spirit is upon me … to bring good news to the poor; proclaim release to the captives, give sight to the blind, free the oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Like the book of Romans was foundational to Luther and the 16th century reformation, Luke 4 was foundational to liberation theology – a reformation movement begun in the 1960s. “Now the text is Luke 4 instead of Romans 3,” David Tiede writes in a 1987 issue of Word and World. “It is a proclamation of the law of God, offering new hope and dignity to those who have borne the brunt of oppressive economic and political systems, and calling the powerful to repent.”
“We yearn for justice; we yearn to know that we are beloved of God.”
One of the most radical parts of this mission is to “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Every 50th year, the jubilee year, land would be returned free to its original owners and slaves would be released. The law protected the poor from the two greatest threats: loss of land and loss of freedom. Once in a lifetime, the whole economy was given a fresh start. So, in Jesus’ mission, the ministry tasks include not just feeding the hungry and poor but working for just systems to prevent poverty.
Jesus articulates his mission, quoting the prophet Isaiah, reminding us that this is not a new vision, but the description of God’s reign in the law and prophets.
BUT THERE’S MORE. Luke’s gospel ends with another public pronouncement from Jesus. In Luke 24, gathered with the disciples before his ascension, he says: “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Repentance and forgiveness, proclaimed and granted through the death and resurrection of Christ. This is gospel – the free grace of God offered to all.
And, what happens after Jesus’ ascension? The Spirit descends upon the disciples and empowers them to speak the love of God in Jesus in every language. They are propelled by the Spirit to live out Jesus’ two-fold mission: good news to the poor and new life for all through forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
“In Jesus’ mission, the ministry tasks include not just feeding the hungry and poor but working for just systems to prevent poverty.”
You and I are called to continue that mission in 2022. To seek justice and proclaim forgiveness. We yearn for justice; we yearn to know that we are beloved of God.
A few days before my father died, the pastor came to bring communion. I wasn’t sure Dad knew what was happening, so before I left, in a conversation that would be my last with him, I asked him some simple yes-or-no questions:
“You know that I love you? And your sons, Rock and Brad, love you too?”
“Yes, and I love you,” he said.
“You know that God loves you?”
“Yes,” he said.
“And you know that nothing can ever separate you from that love?”
He replied, “Yes, isn’t that amazing?”
God’s love come to us this day; a word of love more powerful than anything else. And isn’t that amazing?