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January 17-24, 2007

A man of hope takes a bold step forward

Warm-up Question:

When was a time when you decided to do something really bold?

 

The buzz has begun. U.S. Senator Barack Obama has taken off his hat for what looks like a toss into the presidential election ring. The junior senator from Illinois has announced on his Web site his intentions to file papers for a presidential exploratory committee. There are a number of steps between these initial statements and an actual presidential campaign, but with almost two years remaining until the next presidential election, even this first step is causing quite the stir.

With a book titled The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, Senator Obama is being lifted up as someone who can help his political party find its moral center. There is a lot of hope being put into someone who has been speaking a word of hope. Now the journalists and the commentators can begin to wonder out loud about what a presidential race in 2008 will look like. Will Obama win his party’s primary? Who will represent the other party, or other parties? What will the key issues be? Is the country ready for Senator Obama or any of the other candidates? Will the buzz remain positive? Will the hype continue?

These are all questions that will be answered in time. Right now, supporters are reveling in excitement and hope.

 

Discussion Questions

  1. Would you run for the presidency of the United States? Why or why not?
  2. What would you first want to change if you were president of the United States?
  3. Aside from public office, in what other ways can you imagine changing the world?
  4. Where do you think the greatest need is right now?
  5. Which issues need our immediate attention? Which ones can wait or be accomplished over a longer period of time?

Resources:

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, January 21, 2007.
(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
 

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection
This text is the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry as an adult in the Gospel of Luke. In the first three and a half chapters, we get all the background information on who Jesus is, and how much hope is placed in him. In the verses right before this story, Jesus goes into the desert and gets tested by the devil. Now Jesus is ready to begin his work. He heads back to the area where he grew up and is met with lots of positive press. The buzz is spreading.

In his own hometown, Jesus, being a good and faithful Jew, goes to worship in the synagogue on the Sabbath. He reads aloud a text that is full of hope. They are words from Israel’s past, words from one of Israel’s most cherished givers of hope, the prophet Isaiah. When Jesus comments on these words, he claims them as his own and turns them into something else; something greater. By saying, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,” Jesus is saying that he has the Spirit of the Lord and that he is anointed to bring good news to the poor, he is the one who is to proclaim the release to the captives, he is giving the recovery of sight to the blind, he is the one to let the oppressed go free, and he is the one to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor also known as jubilee, which meant that debts were cancelled and all kinds of other good stuff for the common good (see activities below).

Jesus is riding high. If there were any polls, Jesus’ ratings would be off the charts. His message of hope is good to hear and almost sounds too good to be true. And, it is not something that Jesus is talking about in general. Instead, Jesus is saying that it is about him. It is about what Jesus is doing. It is about what Jesus is preaching. The words of Isaiah are about Jesus. Here Jesus is saying, “Look at me, all this is happening… right now.” Now that is powerful.

The lectionary cuts this text off on a positive note, but we know that the story goes on. We know that this story ends with some folk pretty ticked off at Jesus; so ticked off, in fact, that they drive him to the edge of a cliff and want to throw him off. We know that Jesus does indeed bring healing, and good news, and release to captives of all kinds, and freedom for some who are oppressed. We know that many follow. We know that many are turned off. By the end of the longer story of Jesus, there are very few supporters and things end in violence and death. Then the unthinkable happens. The anointed one, the Christ, is raised from the dead to establish forever all the things promised about him through the prophet Isaiah.

We have reason to hope. And his name is Jesus.

Discussion Questions

  1. What good news can you bring to the poor today?
  2. What captives still need to be released?
  3. What people still need to be healed?
  4. Who is still being oppressed?
  5. Who is in desperate need of jubilee or relief from debt and poverty?
  6. What did you think when you heard about Jesus going to worship at the synagogue as was his custom?

Activity Suggestions

  • Write your Senator or Congressman/Congresswoman.

Individually, compose a letter to your Senator or Congressional Representative about a particular issue. The ELCA advocacy Web site can help with the details at http://www.elca.org/advocacy/

  • Inform participants about the biblical concept of jubilee.

Look at ways you can become active in celebrating jubilee at www.jubileeusa.org

  • Words of Hope.

Have participants compare some great speeches given by some great people of the past. Here are a few suggestions:


  Closing Prayer
God of promise, we live in a time where a message of hope is sometimes hard to find. Give us reason to hope. Put words of hope on our lips. Give us the courage to speak and to act for those who have no hope. Send us to bring good news to the poor, to release the captives, give sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, and to live our lives generously so others may experience your favor. We ask this in the name of the anointed one, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
 

Contributed by Pastor Scott A. Moore
Eisleben, Germany
 

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.

Program Resources