"One of Those Moments"

(Please read Luke 4:14-30)
Lectionary Epipany 3-C and 4-C

There are those times in our lives that are so important, so monumental, that we will forever say "I remember where I was when." For some, it might be the day when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Many of us drew close to the television and watched with a great deal of excitement (and maybe a little fear) as man took his first steps on the moon. Surely, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was one such moment. The attack on the United States, which has become known as "9/11", has been burned into our hearts forever. All of these memories are very personal eyewitness accounts to be told to others in ways that only you and I can do. All have made imprints on our lives and are too important to be kept to ourselves. And so we usually begin by saying, "It was one of those moments ..."

Take delight in the Scriptures this day! Surely, the eyewitness account of the hearing of Jesus’ proclamation has, in part, changed our lives forever. We are the recipients of a sharing of "one of those moments". Do you remember that moment in your own life? Can you recall where you were? You do? You remember that day when you found yourself sitting in the presence of Jesus, when the scroll was unfurled just for you and when your eyes were suddenly fixed upon him? You remember when you heard Jesus clearly say to you, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in YOUR hearing"? Just as it was with this eyewitness in the synagogue, so it is with each one of us. The sharing of this personal moment between Jesus and you (and me) and the Good News that Jesus proclaims should be shared! It is far too good to keep to ourselves!

I thank God for this nameless eyewitness in the Scriptures. That moment in his life was "one of those moments" for sure. I should think that he told his children and grandchildren, his friends and neighbors of the account of this day in the synagogue with Jesus. Just maybe he began by saying, "I will never forget the day when my eyes fixed upon Jesus. I will never forget what he proclaimed. I will never forget that I truly saw the Fulfillment in person. I must tell you about it." To read further in the Scriptures (Luke 4:22-30), we see that the majority who heard the proclamation of Jesus that day in the synagogue all too quickly turned on him for Jesus' proclamation was that the Good News was for all, even the Gentiles. Too soon, most wanted to hurl Jesus off the nearby cliff. But oh, this eyewitness told of that day as he saw it. The words were written. They were passed from generation to generation. It WAS "one of those moments" that would never be hurled off the cliff by the anger of the others. Just think what your own witness might mean to some – yes, even to generations to come.

God of the Good News, open our eyes that we may see your Son stand before us and around us. Open our ears that we might clearly hear Jesus’ proclamation of good news for the poor, the captives, the blind and the oppressed. Open our hearts and our mouths so that we might tell others of this moment in our own lives when we first heard and believed. How can we keep this to ourselves? We too once suffered from poverty, blindness and oppression of the heart. Oh God, lift us from our pews. Take us by the hand and walk with us out of our sanctuaries and through the crowds of those who want only to hurl Jesus off a cliff. Give us hearts and yes, courage, to become eyewitnesses of your Love and Promise Fulfilled. Amen.

anna