Sermon on Luke 4:16-21 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Sermon on Luke 4:16-21 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Given on 27 January 2019 at Studley Parish Church

Some of you may be familiar with the story of the Rabbi’s gift. To tell it briefly, there was once a monastery in decline. The abbot, greatly concerned about its future, visited a Rabbi who lived nearby in order to ask for his thoughts and advice. The Rabbi said that while he empathized about the decline in the church and spiritual belief, he had no advice for the abbot. On parting, the Rabbi said only, “The Messiah is among you.” The abbot went back to the monastery and informed the monks: “The Messiah is among us.” As they prayed and contemplated what this meant, they questioned who among them might be the Messiah.

Each of the monks were very different, with different temperaments and different flaws, but also different gifts and different talents. With time, the monks began treating each other and themselves with more respect, knowing that the Messiah was one of them. As they began to hold each other in higher regard, people outside the monastery began to take notice. Eventually, the once declining monastery became active and lively, with new members enthusiastically joining.

The point of my retelling this story is to highlight two important aspects: One, we are all unique with our individual gifts bestowed by our Creator; Two, once we recognize and accept the gifts and talents within ourselves and others, we fulfill God’s promise.

Today we draw from two readings: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Luke 4:16-21. The first reading focuses on unity and diversity in the body of Christ, or among Christians. The second is about Jesus Christ fulfilling scriptures in His hometown of Nazareth. On face value, these are two very different readings with different objectives. But if we delve into them, we can find a connection that makes the two appear as if they should always be read together.

Let’s look first at the 1 Corinthians reading. These verses were written by the apostle Paul at a time when there was much discord and disharmony within the Church. If you heard Alan’s sermon last week, he spoke a bit more on this topic and how these readings within our current political and social climate are actually quite apt. I won’t go into that today, but I’d like us to look at verses 12-14: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” Paul then goes on to say in verse 27, “now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Just like the monks in that monastery, each of us as Christians within the Church have a role to fill. Furthermore, within society as a whole we all have our unique contribution. This may be our vocation, that which we are called to do as our profession. Sometimes it is simply a hobby, something we do in our spare time. Although we may not all find that dream job we wake up every morning loving to do, we do all have a purpose, and there is no purpose too small. Just as every part of the body whether big or small works together to help make us fully functioning beings, every role we uniquely fill helps the world to endure.

This brings me smoothly to the second reading, Luke 4:16-21. In this reading, Jesus proclaims what His unique role is. Jesus is come to bring “the year of the Lord’s favour”. What a glorious pronouncement. And it is so fitting that this is found in the gospel of Luke, which is referred to as the “gospel of joy”. Favour and joy – two concepts we may be struggling to see at a time when the world seems so chaotic and cruel. Perhaps, it is because the world has become exceptionally dark in recent times that our liturgical calendar should fall on the readings from Luke, the gospel of joy. The fact is, we can find hope in Jesus’ announcement in verse 18 that He will bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free. Even in the darkest of times, Christ has come to restore light, to bring us the year of the Lord’s favour. By stating to everyone His gift, Jesus is fulfilling God’s promise to heal a broken world. In the same way, when we accept our gifts and recognize the gifts of others, we help make the world a better place. We bring the world closer to the Lord’s Prayer of “Thy Kingdom come”. When we use our gifts and respect that everyone has a part to play, just like the monks from the story, we will grow more confident in Christ. And our confidence will shine as a beacon into the darkness of the world and bring others to our warmth.

Thus, once again, when we look at the two readings side by side, one is telling us we all have a singular contribution to make to the world. The other says we fulfill not only our purpose, but God’s purpose when we embrace our role. So, let me leave you with this thought: Are you pursuing God’s purpose for you? Amen.