The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C
January 26, 2025
Nehemiah 8:2-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
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“Living the Mission”
The Very Rev. Kathleen Murray, Rector
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Woodstock
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…”
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, walks into his hometown synagogue and announces his mission with boldness. It’s a moment that defines his ministry, rooted in the promises of Isaiah: to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and the proclamation of God’s favor. These words echo not just across time but across our present reality, calling us to live out their truth in our world.
Today, we gather not only for worship but also for Emmanuel’s annual meeting—a time to reflect on who we are as a community of faith, what we stand for, and whom we obey as our Lord and Savior.
Our Gospel reading today could not be more fitting for this moment. It is a declaration of purpose, of identity, and of allegiance to God’s vision for the world. As we hear this passage, we must ask: How are we, Emmanuel Church, living out the mission Jesus proclaims? Who are we? Are we a community called by Christ to follow his example of love, compassion, and justice? Are we the people of God, bound together not by perfection but by grace?
This past year, we have seen glimpses of this mission in action. Emmanuel’s Table continues to feed those in need through its food pantry, reminding us that every act of service reflects the love of Christ. Thanksgiving Dinner, where we gather to give thanks and extend hospitality, embodies Jesus’ vision. Our community dinners have created spaces of fellowship and care, bringing people together across divides. And we celebrate GAP—Grandparents as Parents—recently honored with the “Celebrating Excellence” award as Nonprofit of the Year in Shenandoah County. This recognition highlights what happens when we respond to God’s call to care for one another, particularly those navigating the challenges of raising grandchildren in today’s world.
Obeying Jesus as Lord and Savior requires more than admiration—it requires transformation. To follow Jesus means submitting ourselves to his way of life, embracing his love and forgiveness, and responding to the call he places on our hearts. It is to say, with humility, “Your will be done,” even when it challenges our comfort or preconceptions.
We affirm our faith in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Creator who brought forth life, the Redeemer who sacrificed for our salvation, and the Spirit who sustains and empowers us. This Triune God calls us into relationship, not just for our own sake but for the sake of the world. Jesus’ mission, as he announced it, is deeply practical. It demands that we live as witnesses to God’s reconciling love, embodying it in our relationships, communities, and the wider world.
Bishop Mariann Budde reminds us that the church’s role is prophetic. We are called to embody the values Jesus proclaimed that day in Nazareth: justice, compassion, and liberation. This vision challenges us to move beyond our walls and engage meaningfully with the world. Through our worship, Word, and Sacrament, we are transformed into witnesses of God’s love and sent into the world to live out that love.
Let us consider what it means to be a church that reflects the mission of Christ. Jesus spoke of the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed—not as abstract concepts but as real people yearning for dignity, freedom, and hope. His proclamation wasn’t limited to words; it was fulfilled in his life. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, lifted up the marginalized, and broke down barriers that divided people from one another and from God.
Do we stand for the Gospel? Do we proclaim good news to the poor, seek and serve those in need, and pursue justice for all?
These questions are essential because this call is both spiritual and practical. It invites us to extend compassion to immigrants, advocate for those marginalized by society, and embody Christ’s liberating love in all we do. Yet, it also challenges us to reflect on where we have fallen short. Are we bringing good news to the poor in ways that transform their lives? Are we advocating for those in captivity, whether physical or systemic? Are we seeing those blinded by despair and offering them hope? These are not easy questions, but they are necessary.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to continue his mission in our lives. Like the people of Nazareth, we might struggle with what that requires. It can be uncomfortable to confront systems of inequality or to acknowledge the ways we’ve benefited from them. It can be daunting to stand for justice in a divided world. But the Spirit that filled Jesus in Galilee is the same Spirit that empowers us today.
When we gather at this table, we are reminded that we are one body in Christ, called to share his love with the world. That love is not passive; it is active and transformative. It calls us to embody the good news of liberation and healing in our communities, to speak boldly against injustice, and to create spaces where all can experience the year of the Lord’s favor.
Let us leave our worship and annual meeting today not just with plans and reports but with renewed hearts, ready to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor in all that we say and do. May our lives, individually and as a church, proclaim the truth—not just in words, but in action. Amen.