There are two kinds of people at Christmas, Angel People and Star People. The Angel People know the story, and are living in expectation, like the Shepherds. The Star People are like the Wise men, people still on the journey, people still searching and seeking out the meaning of life.
Nazareth provides Jesus an opportunity to pull back for awhile, eat some of mama’s good home cooking. And then the sabbath comes when no work is done. As was his custom (Luke is careful to point this out to us, isn’t he?) Jesus makes his way to the local synagogue.
What about us? Like his prophet John, God does not care about roots, but cares passionately about fruits. So you believe in me, God says. What are you going to do about it? Perform deeds worthy of repentant people.
Have you ever gone anywhere just to get away from something? Maybe that's what's happening in this story. The disciples have just suffered the biggest disappointment of their lives. They had given up everything to follow Jesus. And now all that seemed to have gone up in smoke.
Today's text hits on two important imperatives of the Christian faith: Come and see--go and tell. First, experience new life in Christ, then share that experience with others that they may experience it for themselves.
Luke speaks of God's coming to a particular individual in a particular place at a particular point in time. This is not a broadcast carried on CNN. It's a personal message signed, sealed and delivered by God himself.
The story of Jesus is one shock after another--after another--and after another. A comforting thought when I realize that the times I need Jesus most are when I am in the midst of my own shocks. They obviously will NOT be more than he can handle.
Hunger for spiritual food drove the two disciples of John the Baptist to seek out Jesus. Once Andrew found the source of spiritual food, he told his brother Peter. That act is the perfect example of evangelism, one beggar telling another where they can find bread.
Jesus still does these things, because his Church does them. The poor gain hope. The captives experience freedom. The blind receive sight. The oppressed are set free. When Jesus reads that passage in the Nazareth synagogue, he announces a mission statement for himself and for his body the Church.
“I was living in Hope, Arkansas. George Bush was in his second term in The White House. Mike Huckabee was Governor. The Razorbacks were 10 and 3 and on their way to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando … when I heard the voice of God calling my name.”