Jan. 4, 2014

Luke 4:  ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."

Jesus is quoting Isaiah, as he reads from the scroll in the synagogue.  I took 2 verses to finish the thought.  Also at the beginning of the new year, it is nice to wonder if THIS will be the year of the Lord's favor.

I am thinking about the mission:  proclaim good news to the poor, free the prisoners, sight for the blind, and setting oppressed people free.  If we expand our thinking a bit, the blind become all of those who suffer illness and pain, the prisoners are in captivity of various kinds, and the poor and oppressed always deserve our attention.

Prayer:  O, Lord, guide my new year to follow Your mission:  lead me to ways I can help the poor, the oppressed, and all those who suffer from illness and pain or from imprisonment.  Let Your Spirit be upon me every day in all that I do.
Amen