Luke 2:1-20
Luke 4:14-22
“Fulfilled in Your Hearing”
If you’ve been with us for worship over the last month as we’ve been making our way through the Season of Advent, you know that we’ve been talking and singing a lot about the manger – the feed trough into which Jesus was placed by his mother after he was born. More than just being the only safe and warm spot that Mary could lay down her infant to sleep, we have considered the symbolic relevance of Jesus – “The Bread of Life” starting his life in a bread box in the little town of Bethlehem, which literally means “House of Bread.”
Over the past four Sundays, we have proclaimed the message in word and song that “From the manger… hope, peace, joy, and love are born in the Child Jesus.” Then they grow in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and finally they are multiplied again and again whenever Jesus’ followers throughout time and space follow his teachings and embody his love.
The reality is that we live in a world that is hungry. There are people in our community and around the world that are hungry for food, shelter, safety, and other basic necessities. There are people in our community and around the world that are hungry for belonging, affirmation, and care. There are people in our community and around the world that are hungry for meaning, purpose, and hope for the future.
Our Advent devotionals this month have invited us into the stories of one town, somewhere in North America, and the lives of hungry people who gather at a church meal program where they are not only filled with breakfast, but with friendship, community, belonging, and opportunities to serve one another in love.
But even as the devotional celebrates the good things that grow through these ministries, it also acknowledges that “meal sites are not a cure-all. No one – not the folks who come to receive food, not the folks who donate and prepare food, not the folks who serve it – believes what’s happening there is the answer to the problem of hunger. We know that in our small town, like the world at large, there are systemic issues leading to food insecurity, and those must be tackled at systemic levels for everyone to eat healthily, regularly, and enough.
“But while the systemic work is ongoing – while we lobby leaders at every level to ensure access to good quality nutrition for all people – people need to eat. Community meal sites can be part of the answer to the hunger people feel right now, for food and for hope, for peace, for joy, for love.”
Here in Regina, we offer up our prayers, our gifts, and our acts of solidarity and support for the Salvation Army, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, Carmichael Outreach, Indigenous Christian Fellowship, and the Ecumenical Lunch Program. And we give thanks to God for the great efforts they make to not only provide food, but to share hospitality and care with folks who are struggling in our city.
Sometimes, though, if you’re like me… the problems of the world can seem overwhelming. We can get discouraged when the systemic problems are taking too long to get corrected, and the needs only seem to be growing and growing. But our Christmas devotional invites us to find good news “in the stories of our ancestors in faith. We can read it in the Gospels as they unfold. And we can anticipate it tomorrow if we simply follow John the Baptist’s instruction: share what you have with those in need.”
“Advent is a journey through stories of folks sharing what they have: an innkeeper [or perhaps a relative] offers a private, safe space in the form of a stable and a manger; angels send out their joyful songs; shepherds share the wonder they’ve witnessed; a faithful elder bestows a meaningful blessing. Those offerings are here-and-now good news, gifts making community, connection, and celebration happen. People still hunger for food and for good news, but the bread box in the town called “House of Bread” has already begun to feed the world.”
“Telling this story, the author of Luke’s Gospel gives readers two big announcements. The first comes from the sky, when Jesus is born, and the angels call out to the shepherds: “We’ve got good news, joy for everyone!” The second comes from the synagogue, when Jesus begins his ministry, saying to those gathered: “I’ve got good news, joy for those who are hungry for relief, for release, for reason to hope again!” Jesus specifically names those who have been disempowered and dispossessed, letting them know God is with them and for them.”
Jesus begins his proclamation by reading from the Prophet Isaiah, but he finishes by commenting on the Scripture text that he has chosen. He says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” It is not that the good news will be fulfilled; Jesus proclaims that it has been fulfilled already, speaking in the perfect tense.
“This declaration may have seemed puzzling to some then, as it does now. The poor grow poorer, and the oppressed remain oppressed. Here, let me draw your attention to the last phrase of verse 21 – in your hearing. It is not in the emperor’s hearing, it is not in the high priest’s hearing, it is not in someone else’s hearing. It is in your hearing; it is in our hearing.
“Jesus’ good news can be fulfilled and can continue to be fulfilled because we, his followers, are engaged in it and because we, his followers, commit to the work of hope and justice he promised.”
The author of Illustrated Ministry’s commentary for Christmas suggests that if Advent is a season of anticipation, Christmas – which is also a season lasting twelve days from December 25th until January 5th – must be a season of commitment. “While we revel in the festive charms and cherish time with loved ones, let us also remember that Christmas calls us to embrace and act on the good news brought to us, the work of love and justice.”
Our devotional tells the story of the Christmas cookie exchange that became a tradition at one church breakfast program. On a chosen date in late December, the volunteers agree to bring something extra. In addition to preparing the usual menu of hard-boiled eggs, English muffins, cheese, and fruit – they come loaded down with tins of snickerdoodles and snowballs and frosted sugar cookies cut into shapes of stars and boots and Santa hats. The line of guests out the door strikes fear in the hearts of the bakers, who worry there’s no way they’ve made enough cookies to satisfy the hungry crow. But it never fails: folks come excited, share in the sweet generosity, and leave feeling stuffed.
From the manger, hope, peace, joy, and love grow. They grow in the person of Jesus Christ, and then are multiplied as Jesus’ followers (the Body of Christ, the Bread of Life) feed the world with love. Thanks be to God.