Good Beginnings
Sermon preached by Dn. Jeff Smith on Sunday, September 1, 2024
Good morning! Christ is in our midst.
In today’s gospel, Jesus introduces himself in Nazareth among the people where he had been brought up. He proclaims that the prophecies he reads to the congregation in Isaiah have been fulfilled in their midst. He reads, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” What’s striking to me about this reading is how hopeful Jesus is, and how well received he is. On that day, all spoke well of him. We know that was more often not the case. In fact, Jesus is adored, followed, and reviled in equal measure, but rarely simply welcomed. In other versions, he is driven out of town after he announces himself. People cannot accept a prophet from Nazareth. They ask, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” and “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” After John the Baptist is beheaded, Jesus realizes that the end for him is near. But there is none of that in today’s gospel. All spoke well of him. Before the wedding at Cana, his coming out party, this is his true debut. He announces himself and his mission clearly. Jesus will preach the good news, give sight to the blind, release the captives, and liberate the oppressed.
It is a good beginning. And today’s gospel corresponds with the very beginning of the liturgical year. Happy New Year, everyone! We have just wrapped everything up with Dormition and the finding of the head of John the Baptist that marks the end. But today is September 1, the beginning of a new cycle. We have finished Matthew and begin a new series of readings from Luke. And of course, the liturgical year also corresponds with the academic year, so today is a good day to welcome our students, our new college students – don’t worry, we will welcome you more formally later – our Sunday School students – all of our teens returning to school. I love this time of year, this time of new beginnings and hope, friendships rekindled after months away at camp and summer jobs.
Often when I give a homily, I look for a problem that our relationship with Christ can solve, to conclude with a solution to a problem. But there is no problem in today’s gospel. It is simply Christ with his people and his beautiful reception. It is a new day as every day is a new day. Today is our new day to begin again, and again.
And today also marks a new beginning for Natasha and me to explore the possibility of becoming missionaries in the South Pacific. Next week, we leave for Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand to greet the church there in your name, to preach the good news and liberate the oppressed.
We ask for your prayers and your support. Please remember us when Father Antony announces our name during the Great Entrance. Pray for our discernment and for the fulfillment of God’s will. We go to learn how to serve Christ and we will return with good news from the churches abroad. So, please remember and pray for us.
In conclusion, let us not forget that “this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad therein.”
Thanks be to God.