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. (Luke 4:18)

Today’s reflection is by Cameron Partridge

Episcopal Chaplain at Boston University

In these famous words, unique to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus takes up a proclamation from what biblical scholars call “third Isaiah” (Is 61:1).  He reads these words in the midst of the synagogue and when he finishes, he claims that “today” – in their lifetime, even “in their hearing”– the prophecy was “fulfilled.” So startling was this claim, that as he returned to his seat no one could take their eyes off him.  Here were these words incarnate.

The Lukan Jesus embodied liberation and release.  He took up these words, enacted them, everywhere.  As Luke’s version of the Transfiguration (9:28-36) uniquely underscores, even what Jesus would go on to “accomplish at Jerusalem”—the very paschal mystery into which we are walking this Lent – was an exodon, an exodus.  And what was the Exodus but liberation from captivity?

As we ourselves stare at these words, we too are invited to hear them as enfleshed, embodied.  And if we receive them this way, we are challenged to ask ourselves: from what do we need to be released?  What in your life is being set free?