Theme

This week’s scripture reading comes once again from the scroll of Isaiah. It is also the last reading from the Hebrew scriptures for this cycle of the Narrative Lectionary. While it is traditionally attributed to the same Isaiah who we heard from before (the vision of God in the heavenly throne room), Scholars think that this section was most-likely written by a later disciple of Isaiah. The author takes some of the themes from the earlier writings of Isaiah, written before the exile; and uses them to encourage those who have returned from exile, yet are still facing many of the same issues. The author casts a theo-poetic vision of a world made right, a world in which God’s vision of perfection is actually lived out. A world in which the oppressed are given the good news of liberation, where those captive and in prison are set free, where the brokenhearted are given healing and wholeness. They proclaim a reversal and restoration of all things.

Just as the author of this text is looking back at the writings of those who came before them, we in the Christian tradition look forward in the timeline. The Gospel of Luke (which we will be starting next week) notes this text as the one that Jesus preaches his first sermon from, which we will hear in January. It is a very short sermon, nine words long, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21), and it almost gets him killed. The Gospel of Luke then goes on to describe Jesus’ ministry in which the poor are given good news, captives are released, the blind are given sight, and the oppressed are freed; which really does get him killed.

Yet, for Christians who live after the death of Jesus, we know that this is not the end of the story. That the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus means something profound, life changing, and world changing. Especially in the season of Advent, we, as disciples of Jesus, continue to cast a theo-poetic vision of a world made right, a world in which God’s vision of perfection is really lived out. In joy we seek to live out this vision in the here and now, even as we await and expect a future reversal and restoration, saying “come, Lord Jesus.”

Questions

– How different is the vision found in Isaiah 61 from the world we see around us?

– Who is this ‘good news’ for?

– Who might be more nervous about such ‘good news,’ and why?

– How might it be good news for them as well?

– What does a perfect Christmas look and feel like?

Reflections:

Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

Introit: For the four Sundays of Advent, we will use the various verses of “Come Now, O Prince of Peace”, in the order most closely matching the week’s advent candle – making this week verse three, “Come now and set us free”.

Opening Hymn: For our opening hymn we are using one that not only references our scripture reading, but is also closely associated with Christmas (even though it is not in that section of our hymnal); the text comes from one the earliest existing liturgies.: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”

Transition Hymn: For Advent, we will sing the hymn “O Come, Emmanuel” as our Transition Hymn.

Special Music: Third preview of the music from our Lesson and Carols program (12/15 6:30 PM), “Jul, Jul”, arr. by Chris de Silva.

Responsive Hymn: We are celebrating remembrance of Baptism; to prepare we will sing “Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters”.

Sending Hymn: 21st century hymn, “The People That Walked in Darkness”, that references a different scripture from Isaiah with the refrain “His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Father forever, Prince of Peace”.

Benediction: For the four weeks of Advent, we sing a more contemplative text (vs. the more traditional entreaty/invitation) focused on individual preparation, the first verse of  “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”