Walking Through Chaos

 WALKING THROUGH THE CHAOS – SUNDAY JANUARY 26, 2025

Luke 4:16-21 “When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then Jesus began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

➖

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading Jesus is invited to give the Sabbath sermon. Note that he consciously selects the words he wants to read, unrolling the scroll to just the right place. Then observe how he *sits down* to offer commentary. This was the rabbinic way. No human words were considered greater than Torah - “God’s Word.” Jesus, like any other rabbi, sits in recognition of this fact. And then, “The eyes of all were fixed on him.”

Everything about this would have been the same for Bp. Budde at the Inaugural Prayer Breakfast January 20th. Everything, that is, except that as a Christian preacher Bp. Budde remained standing to offer her commentary. Christian preachers do this because the Living Word, Jesus the Christ whom we proclaim, is understood by us to be *greater* than the written words of the Bible. Interesting, right?!

I’m a preacher. I have feelings about these things. People say Bp. Budde “called out Trump” – but she did no such thing. Rather, she “invited him in!”

This is called “the Gospel.” It is an invitation to join God’s Beloved Community in the healing of the world. Like Jesus, Bp. Budde simply interpreted the Word for her day, her context and in light of those present. In the integrity of her own person, she lifted the Word of God into a central position. This is what a preacher is called to do.

It is the *Word of God* that has caused the national stir you have witnessed this week, not Bp. Budde. Please be clear about what it is being opposed by Trump, MAGA and GOP extremists here. Bp. Budde asked Pres. Trump for mercy and compassion on those in distress, not because she wants to “call him out,” but because he has a unique opportunity to be God’s servant in this. She “invited him in” to this holy work. This is what the Church does!

Sadly, if you read further on in Luke 4 you will see that those who heard Jesus’ sermon ended up coalescing into an angry, violent mob – again, like those we have seen this week. Then as now the invitation was given. However it is often not embraced. So, Jesus simply walks through the crowd, unphased. Read the story. He followed the voice within him, not the buzz of disinformation, hypocrisy and narcissism all around him. It is the same today.

Breathe my friends. In the power of love, you shall do the same. You shall do the same!

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