Unrolled Scrolls

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. 

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21)

We all carry similar scrolls.  Do we unroll them daily and proclaim that which all of us, as “anointed ones,” should profess?  We were anointed at baptism and confirmation.  Therefore, we are more that qualified and obligated to read what was written on our souls at our anointing.  Do we bring glad tidings to the poor through charity and reaching out to them? Do we proclaim liberty to captive loved ones and friends by forgiving them?  Do we recover the sight of the blind by helping them see the love of God through our behavior and actions?  Do we let those we oppressed go free by not condemning them through our thoughtlessness and cruelty revealed through our use of social media?  Is everything we do and think throughout the year acceptable to the Lord?

All of us are like Luke’s most excellent Theophilus, with each of us needing to realize the certainty of Jesus’ teachings we have received.  We are Jesus’ anointed audience. Today and every day we are to ensure Jesus' Scripture passage is fulfilled.

Deacon David Pierce