1 Dear Theophilus: Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us. 2 They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message. 3 And so, your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you. 4 I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught... ... 14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, and the power of the Holy Spirit was with him. The news about him spread throughout all that territory. 15 He taught in the synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures 17 and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed 19 and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.” 20 Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, 21 as he said to them, “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.” Other readings: Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10; Psalm 19:7-9, 14; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 LECTIO Two extracts from the Gospel of Luke are presented together today. The first is an introduction to the second. In Chapter 1 Luke is keen to show the quality and reliability of his information. First, he has spoken to eyewitnesses of the events he describes, and, secondly, he has done extensive research. So his report is not the sort of “embroidered news” you can hear in the market or read in newspapers. The letter is addressed to Theophilus, which means “God’s friend”. Jesus’s visit to the synagogue in Nazareth is the focus of Chapter 4. While Isaiah is chosen for him, it appears Jesus selects these specific verses. He reads them to the gathered community. Jesus then teaches on the meaning  of these words. He tells them that Isaiah’s prophecy, written hundreds of years ago, “has come true today”. The implication is that Jesus himself is the fulfilment of these words. The local man Jesus now comes with the good news for the poor, liberty for captives, sight to the blind and freedom for the oppressed. We are not told whether Jesus is speaking literally or metaphorically here. But how did this community feel when Jesus spoke out that Sabbath morning? What happened in their hearts and minds? Did Jesus’s words make any sense? While this event took place 2,000 years ago, the truth of God’s Word is everlasting. So reading of Scripture should never be just a mere cultural event. Whenever and wherever the Scriptures are proclaimed they are alive, active and always full of power. MEDITATIO What do you think the people listening to Jesus would have understood when he said: “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read”? How well do you think these verses from Isaiah sum up Jesus’s ministry on earth? In what ways did Jesus fulfil this prophecy? Give thanks for all the ways the good news of the Gospel is true for you. ORATIO Pray that in your church everyone will play their part so the whole church functions healthily, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12: 12-30. Pray about your role in this. Ask God to show you if there are things you should be doing or allowing others to do. CONTEMPLATIO Reflect on Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy that the Lord gives you will make you strong.” Lectio Divina is an ancient tradition of reading and engaging with God’s Word. These outlines for the Sunday Gospel readings are published by the Bible Society. Download at Biblesociety.org.uk/lectio. © 2008 United Bible Societies. Bible text Good News Translation, second edition © 1992 American Bible Society, New York