Good News

Isaiah 61:1-4New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
    to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

If this passage sounds familiar, it is because it is the passage Jesus quotes in the Gospel of Luke when he reads from the scroll in the temple and says  "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 

Two years ago was the shooting at Sandy Hook where innocents lost their lives. God seeks comfort for those who still mourn.

Sunday is also Black Lives Matter Sunday, a day to be reminded that there are still oppressed people in our country and the good news is for them as well.

There are still captives who are needing to be freed.

There are still prisoners needing to be released.

There are still those in mourning who need comforting.

There are still ruined cities needing to be rebuilt.

And yet through all of that, God dwells in the midst.  With the mourning.  With the captives.  With the oppressed.

The good news has come into the world, despite all of the ways we often miss it. 

In this season of Advent, what are the ways you can wait for that Good News with intention and hope?  In what ways can you be good news to those who need it?

God of all, as I wait for your coming, help me to be good news to those who need it.  Amen.