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How Prophetic a Ministry
Dr. John Holbert
In last week’s reflections on this passage, which the lectionary collectors limited to vss.14-21, I continued the story to include the material for today, vss.21-30. I did not think then, nor do I think now, that one can easily divide this portion of the tale from the beginning of the inaugural sermon of Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth. I focused my attention last week on the clear message of universality that lies in the sermon. The rage that overcame the listeners was engendered by Jesus, alluding to two passages from the Hebrew Bible that he found to be indicative of the ministry on which he was about to embark. He was sent, he implied, to both Jew and Gentile, just as his prophetic forebears, Elijah and Elisha, were sent. The local Jewish folk of Nazareth were not ready to hear such an inclusive message, and they literally threatened Jesus’s life as a result.
But there lies in these verses at least one more concern that Luke wishes to raise. As often in the gospels, the movements of the dialogues appear to be not as smooth or easily followed as a reader might expect. This section is a prime example. After Jesus has read his chosen passage from three texts from Isaiah, primarily from Is.61, he sits down and announces, “Today this scripture that you have heard is being brought to fulfillment” (Luke 4:21). It is an odd way to conclude a reading. Precisely what does he mean? The promise of the Isaiah texts consists primarily of prophetic acts on behalf of the marginalized of the society: the poor, the blind, the oppressed, the imprisoned. It encompasses a list very like those discovered in nearly all the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. Little surprise then that the words evoke in the congregation “amazement at his graceful words” (4:22). They have heard this sermon before, no doubt; all should be concerned for those who have special needs in the community. Exactly how the texts are being fulfilled today is less clear.
Jesus then shifts subject completely. He refers to a noted proverb, “Physician, heal yourself,” and then imagines that they will expect him to do the great deeds of healing that he has done in Capernaum. (In reality, Luke misspeaks here; Jesus has not yet been to Capernaum, but will go very soon after leaving Nazareth, where he will indeed do deeds of healing: a man with an unclean spirit, ridding Peter’s mother-in-law of fever, and in a huge act of healing will treat “any who were sick…and cured them” (4:31-40). Jesus will be known as a healer, a man with special gifts, and he says to the synagogue community in Nazareth that they will demand the same from him.
But then he shifts subjects again! After telling them that he understands “no prophet is acceptable in his own country,” he proceeds to remind them of the universal nature of the prophetic work of Elijah and Elisha, implying that they may expect the same from him. Prophetic work with the poor and outcast is
affirmed by the crowd, and Jesus anticipates that they will also admire and applaud his healing ministry, but when he turns to the universal nature of that work, they turn ugly and will not have it!
Jesus was not rejected for his healing work, or for his concern for the marginalized. His rejection came from those who could not stand his choices of eating partners, his willingness to extend his ministry to those who were not Jewish. How about us? How far are we willing to go to extend our work beyond neighbors and friends to those we name enemies?
Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” Luke 4:23
TAX RECEIPTS
Due to the Canada Post strike in December, the Canada Revenue Agency has issued legislation that extends the deadline for making donations for the 2024 tax year until February 28, 2025. We will be issuing tax receipts up to December 31, 2024 as usual and then issuing receipts again from January 1 to February 28, 2025.
If you wish to take advantage of this one time change and claim January and February 2025 donations on your 2024 tax return please contact Jackie Taylor, otherwise we will hold the tax receipts for those two months until the end of 2025 and you will receive two receipts then.
Thank you
Jackie
North of Nowhere: Conversation with TRC Commissioner Marie Wilson
Date: Monday, February 24
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue
Free tickets (please register): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1223563624739
Join us on Monday, February 24 for an in-person conversation with Marie Wilson about her new book North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was critical to establishing a public record of the experiences of Survivors of residential schools and generated 94 Calls to Action for all areas of society to work towards reconciliation. Marie Wilson will speak about her time with the Commission, the ongoing need for truth, healing and justice for Indigenous people in Canada, and where we are today.
Journalist and author Cynthia Reyes will moderate. Marie Wilson will be available to sign books afterward. Her book will be available for purchase on site. Organized by the Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the United Church of Canada.
More information may be obtained by contacting:
Katharine Sisk
Senior Program Coordinator,
Justice Ministries, Life and Mission Agency
The Presbyterian Church in Canada
1-800-619-7301 ext. 25
From the Guatemalan Mission Team
The Guatemala mission team will be serving around 1000 children across 4 schools and an orphanage in mid March.
We’re looking for donations of the following items:
1. Summer clothing for orphan babies/toddlers (0-3 years), young children (3-12 years) and young moms (11-15 years)
2. Baby shoes, regular shoes, tennis shoes, socks and towels for children (1-10 years) 3. Diapers, blankets, bottles for newborns
4. Medicine and first aid items, such as Tylenol, Advil, Polysporin, bandages, alcohol swabs 5. Soft cover lightweight notebooks, crayons, watercolor paints, pencils, pens and calculators 6. Laptops and portable projectors in good condition
7. Deflated soccer balls, volleyball nets, ping-pong paddles, tennis balls
8. Uniforms for sports teams
9. Lightweight non-bulky toys such as stuffed animals
The weather in the region (Antigua) ranges from 12-30 degrees Celsius, so the clothing items should be lightweight.
If you have any of these items in good condition, please make sure they are clean, sorted into clean bags by category, and you can place them in the clothing bin previously used for the Canadian/Ukrainian parachute donations. Thank you for your generosity! The babies and school children will be very blessed by your donations.
The deadline is March 2nd.
World Day of Prayer 2025
Graceview is the host church for this year’s WDP which will take place on Saturday March 8th at 10:00. The subject this year is the Cook Islands in the south Pacific and the program was written by Christian women who live there. The program title is “I made you wonderful”, based on Psalm 139.
We hope we can count on your support. Please mark the date and invite your friends. Maureen Screen
NEW A Winter Devotional Update:
A new edition of These Days (January/February/March), as well as the current edition of Our Daily Bread (December/January/February) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on the church porch.
Coffee/Tea Sign – Up
The sign-up sheet for coffee/tea service after worship is on the bulletin board
opposite the kitchen downstairs. Please sign yourselves up or sign up your
committee so that our Fellowship time after church can continue.
Feb. 2-23 – Outreach
Mar. 2 – 30 – Mission Team