Unrolled Scrolls

Jesus 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 4:16-21)

We all carry “scrolls” of a sort.  They are our personal histories recording our ups and downs as well as our loves – those we have and those we have lost. 

Do our scrolls have much of the same passages as those read by Jesus the rabbi quoting the prophet Isaiah?  They should.  If not, then it’s time we amended our scrolls to make them more meaningful and consistent with Jesus’ references and to make them more acceptable to God.  

Easter is soon, and thereafter we should plan on fulfilling this Scripture passage in the hearing of those who need our love and compassion.  This is paramount before our scrolls are rolled up and handed over to God at our passing from this life to the next.

Deacon David Pierce