September 3 | Following Jesus' Example | Hope Month | Barry Rodriguez

We will begin this series by digging deeply into a pivotal moment in Jesus’ life: when he publicly launches his ministry by reading Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue of Nazareth. His reading of this prophecy gives us a significant glimpse into what Jesus saw as the concrete evidence of his coming kingdom being made real: the poor will hear good news, captives will be released, the blind will see, the oppressed will be set free, and the ‘time of the Lord’s favor’ (the long-awaited era of abundance, justice, and freedom for God’s children) will come. In other words, for those marginalized and crushed under the thumb of a broken world, God’s justice will reign. The fact that Jesus says “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day” helps us understand why his teachings throughout the rest of Luke focus so much on justice, mercy, and generosity (Luke 6:20-21, 24-26; 14:7-14; 16:19-31; 19:1-10; 18:18-25; 21:1-4): because this isn’t just a future hope anymore. Justice for the poor and marginalized is now possible. It is a cornerstone of Christ’s kingdom, and a priority he expects his followers to emulate.