This morning I preached at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. The sermon was the spoken version of today’s Sunday Musing on Luke 4. I’m sending the audio along this evening if you’d like to listen — and get a sense of the differences between a written piece and a preached reflection. (A sermon transcript is available by clicking the top icon on the right side of the audio window above.)
The scripture text is at the bottom of this post.
Tonight, I went to my own little church in Alexandria. The priest used this benediction from the Black Rock Prayer Book and it is perfect with my sermon — and surely a blessing we need right now.
The world now is too dangerous
and too beautiful for anything but love.
May your eyes be so blessed you see God in everyone.
Your ears, so you hear the cry of the poor.
May your hands be so blessed
that everything you touch is a sacrament.
Your lips, so you speak nothing but the truth with love.
May your feet be so blessed you run
to those who need you.
And may your heart be so opened,
so set on fire, that your love,
your love, changes everything.
Good night. Rest well. May the Word and my words strengthen you for the week ahead. Hard things await. Together, we can rise in love.
Luke 4:14-21 [22-30]
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he 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 let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
And he 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."
[Today’s lectionary selection ends here. But the story continues until Luke 4:30]
All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’
And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town”
[Jesus then refers to two Hebrew Bible stores — one of a widow, the other of a leper]. When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!
A BEAUTIFUL YEAR
COMING FALL 2025
Some good news in this hard week. My next book, A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance will be released later this year.
It explores the stories of the Christian year as a spiritual practice of resistance and resilience in difficult and uncertain times. Many — but not all — of the essays appeared here at The Cottage. You’ll find favorite reflections, revised musings, and brand new, never published mediations. All in a beautiful book to treasure. ❤️
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