For whatever reason (perhaps because it takes two Sunday to do justice to Luke’s story in chapter 4), the appointed Gospel readings for the Third and Fourth Sundays after Epiphany are in fact one story, divided in half, giving pastors, priests, and preachers ample opportunity to clarify what Jesus did (and did not do!) while giving his first sermon in the Nazareth synagogue, his hometown “church.” Although I heard Pastor Katie Pasch of St. John Lutheran Church in Griffin, Georgia, unpack the full meaning and impact of Luke’s story, her busy schedule (she was the grandmother of a new baby yesterday!) precluded her sending me her text; and as a consequence, I’m making available Pastor Ron Luckey’s two sermons. Here is his first homily, based on Luke 4.14-21, as the people of Faith Lutheran Church, Lexington, Kentucky, heard it on the Third Sunday after Epiphany, January 24, 2010:
It’s a Friday evening. Sundown. The Jewish Sabbath has begun, and the town of Nazareth has gathered in the synagogue to worship. Jesus, the hometown boy who’s been out in the world making a name for himself is in the congregation that night. Before the service starts, the rabbi walks up to him. “Jesus, I wonder if you’d be willing to be our assisting minister and read a portion of the scripture for us, and say a few words this evening? I know the folks would appreciate it.” (more…)
