Advent Word of the Day - Release

If you check out Rethink Church (https://www.umc.org/en/content/advent-photo-a-day-2023) it gives bible verses that the words for the day are based on. This week it is selected passages from Isaiah 61.

“The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me
    because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
    to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and release to the prisoners,” Isaiah 61:1
This same passage is read by Jesus in the temple of his home town except he adds to the end, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)

And do you know what the people did then????
 
Nothing. They sat amazed and said good things about their hometown boy. They knew he was gaining popularity and they had heard of his miracles and they wanted some of that for themselves. As a nation they had been captives for long enough and who better than one of their own to rise up and be the conquering hero for the people of Israel.

Then he started meddling. He said “You are not going to like what I say next.” He reminded them that in scripture the prophet Elijah was sent to a widow in Sidon, a place outside of Israel, and that she exemplified more trust and faith than those in Israel. He also spoke of the healing of Naaman the Syrian by Elisha reminding his listeners (family and friends) that Israel rejected the healing that Elisha brought and took that healing to someone on the outside.
That’s when they were ready to throw Jesus over a cliff. It rarely goes well when scripture is interpreted in a way that doesn’t fit our tradition or world view.

Jesus came to bring GOOD NEWS to the oppressed. That means there is probably bad news for those who are gaining wealth a power at the expense of others.

Jesus came to heal the broken hearted. Not just the broken hearted in the church or in church leadership or a certain denomination. He came to HEAL the BROKEN hearted and many of those have broken hearts because of the church.

Jesus came to free the captives and release the prisoners. He came to bring justice and mercy to all who have been wrongly imprisoned or have sinned and sought forgiveness. This is the hardest prophecy from Isaiah.
 
Released from prison? A prison doesn’t have to have bars to punish. It could be a prison of revenge, anger, spite, gossip, chronic pain, or grief. Releasing these emotions is hard, there is often comfort in holding on to the negativity, but it is necessary to let go in order move forward and to point the way to Christ.

Are you ready to throw me over a cliff yet?

I have not perfected (gotten even close to) this kind of release yet. I often grasp onto my (self)righteous anger and grip it tightly with both hands. This feels good in the moment, but it is not healthy or productive in the long run.

Each day I try again. Some days I fail, but some days I succeed. It is those days I feel free.

The picture is from the Naked Pastor - David Hayward