Glad Tidings to the Poor

Gospel: Luke 4: 16-30

The very first message Jesus proclaims in his public ministry is that God is for all people, that no one is excluded from God's love and mercy.  And right from the beginning this message finds violent opposition that persists to this very day.   The people of Jesus' home town do not want to be reminded of God's care for foreigners in salvation history.  They don't want to hear how the self-proclaimed chosen people are not so privileged after all.  The message that God is for all poses a threat to those who have used religion to hold power over others and to monetize the message of exclusion to their benefit.

The message that God is for all finds great acceptance from those traditionally excluded from religion: the poor and oppressed, the foreigner and outcast.  They have been the victims of institutional religion that has created false theological constructs to support the prevailing attitudes of bigotry that exist in societies.  They have created monetized obstacles to overcome in order to become accepted, if at all, by society and its religious elites.  The acceptance of God and others is certainly welcomed by those historically oppressed.

Those in religion have a choice to make in terms of what sort of religion, what sort of society they want to make.  They can continue the age old pattern of power and monetization of religion that only creates more secularity through a sham religion.  Or they can care for souls as Jesus did, providing access to God for all out of love for others and not to exercise power over others or profit from such service.  One is an institution of power and self-interest; the other is authentically human and a response of love.