Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Christ, the Fulfillment of the Good News
The lectionary is quite intentional in beginning today’s passage with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and ending this section before the conflict ahead. One must contemplate the intentionality of Luke’s portrayal of Jesus’ identity and his purpose before escalating to the implications ahead. Jesus is the carrier and fulfillment of the Good News, and the Holy Spirit empowers, equips, and leads Jesus to deliver his inaugural address precisely in his own hometown.
Jesus is not just the carpenter’s son; he has a greater purpose. The Holy Spirit has anointed him to bring the Good News to the economically, socially, and religiously unfavored and the marginalized. He was sent to liberate the prisoners. He was sent to give sight to people who are blind. He was sent to free the oppressed. This is the Good News for Jesus’ audience, because it is also the Year of the Lord’s Favor.
God’s favor will reach the unfavored because of Jesus. The audience knew the importance of the Year of the Lord’s Favor. It’s known as the Jubilee: a year of liberation and restoration (Leviticus 25:8–15).
All eyes are fixed on Jesus, perhaps of amazement, for this is the Good News they want to hear, and ending this section with Jesus’ prophecy, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,” is the end of Luke’s introduction of the Christ. His hometown must gasp at his true identity. During this Epiphany season, we are reminded of Christ’s purpose and our mission.
The deliverer of the Good News is the Christ and the fulfillment of the prophecy. Today, the Holy Spirit is still at work equipping, empowering, and leading the body of Christ to proclaim the Year of the Lord’s Favor to all people, specifically to the unfavored. Amen.
Jesmina Meade, pastor, Trinity Moravian Church
New Carrollton, Maryland