The spirit of the
Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed
me; he has sent me to bring good news to
the oppressed, to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives, and release to the prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1
Isaiah 61:1
Jesus quotes this passage from the prophet Isaiah when he first
appears on the scene in Luke’s Gospel (4:18-19) as a kind of mission statement.
Those of us who are called to follow him can expect that good news, emotional
wound care, liberty, and release will be part and parcel of our work, too.
Earlier in the fall, Sylvia Havlish of Lutheran Congregational Services came to the congregation I serve to do a Path of Grief Presentation for our small grief support group.
She shared stories from her life and work experience, and made room for those gathered to share, too. Her presence
was like a balm in Gilead- people who had yet to open up to the group about their
struggles were suddenly pouring out their hearts. There was much release and
healing there that day.
In these words, the prophet Isaiah lets us know that wherever
oppression and domination are replaced with right relationships of mutuality,
wherever the sorrowful discover joy, and wherever captivity to sin is
supplanted by freedom, there is God. I give thanks that the work of binding up
the brokenhearted continues through the ministry of Sylvia and other
bereavement counselors.
Seeing vulnerability and compassion break into our often
ruthless, competitive, and fast-paced world gives me hope for our collective
future.
Lord Jesus Christ, send your Spirit to free and heal the
oppressed, brokenhearted, and those who are in captivity. Amen.
The Rev. Inge Williams pastors Friedens Church in Shartlesville,
PA.
No comments:
Post a Comment