24th January 2016 – Epiphany 3C

GOOD NEWS
Spirit-filled
Jesus unrolled the scroll
and found the place
and read
and having read
sat down.

Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.
Not yesterday
last week
tomorrow …
Today

Your world has changed –
today.

Little wonder
all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Home town boy telling them
their long-hoped-for age had come.

Scripture been fulfilled —
in him.

But its fulfilment
included a much wider range of humanity
than their middle-class, devout imaginations
would permit.

They stood on the thresh-hold of the kingdom of God
it defied their expectations.
it lacked ‘signs’
it held no particular priority
for their community
ahead of others
and (gasp!) included the socially unacceptable.

No person or group
would have priority.
no Gold Passes
no Frequent Flier programs.
God’s grace is for everyone.

(Adapted from a sermon from long ago, which may have drawn on material from other long-forgotten, even unacknowledged, sources.)
         © Jeff Shrowder, 2016.
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