Luke 4:14-22

This reading is from early in Jesus’ ministry, when news of him is spreading in Galilee where he has returned “in the power of the Spirit.”  At this stage he is teaching in the synagogues and being praised by all.  As long as his teachings did not threaten the powers that be, everyone was happy with them. 

When he came to Nazareth, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath.  He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of Isaiah. The passage he read describes Jesus exactly, how he was anointed by God to bring good news to the poor, liberty to prisoners, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. After he sat down, as everyone looked intently at him, he said, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Here and at other times, Jesus has realized he is the one sent by God. It all starts to add up and match up. He recognizes in the scriptures words that describe him and his ministry exactly.  His life and the prophesies from centuries past are as if pinned together in time, as if time has folded back on itself and is pinned together at that connection, like a wormhole.  The other end of the wormhole extends all the way to our time and space, when we read about and are inspired by Jesus’ life, which was foretold by the prophets and which now guides our feet in the way of love and peace in the present moment.  Time is elastic, this much we know and can say with confidence.  Love is boundaryless, and peace is sacred stillness. 

That is enough cosmology for one day.  Amen.