According to next Sunday’s lectionary, Jesus goes into the synagogue of his home village Nazareth, and reads this from Isaiah, “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 let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” And then, says Luke, “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 he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”“
To hear the people’s reaction, we’ll have to wait for Sunday 30th. Meanwhile, though, what words! Just imagine that being said, maybe not an a village, but in the city of Manchester (above). In this view from the hills, it is a distant, hazy place. But it is a place of life and death, pain and joy, multiplied by thousands, a place of big events, a place that has been on the news today. “The year of the Lord’s favour” is something to be hungry for.
Please pray for the city.
Please pray for every city.