¹⁴But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

God’s Chosen Servant

15 When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them,¹⁶and he ordered them not to make him known.¹⁷This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
¹⁸ ‘Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,    my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹ He will not wrangle or cry aloud,    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
²⁰ He will not break a bruised reed    or quench a smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
²¹   And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’

This passage reports Jesus as claiming the quoted Isaiah passage as justification for his quiet mode of ministry: he did not cry aloud in the street about his own status, because he didn’t crave adoption as a national religious hero by his own people, but looked for trust  as the bearer of God’s justice for all humanity. The passage suggests that there’s something about shouting in the street which encourages sectarian enthusiasm; something about acts of healing and compassion which invites true faith. At a time when churches are wondering how to gain converts, the passage is very relevant. If the church looks on itself now as “God’s own people” it should take note that Jesus’ whole trajectory was towards those who did not see themsleves as God’s people. The church is the community of celebration and transmission of God’s love for the world. On this feast of Epiphany the church remembers the “showing of Christ to the Gentiles” in the persons of the Wise Men, and commits itself again to the One who “came to his own but his own did not receive him.”

WWJD ONLY HERE!!!

Today we have a letter from Jenny

Dear Jesus,

I really like your church – though it can be endlessly frustrating and messy, it can also be brilliant and comforting and challenging and inspiring. All because of the people in it.

But I am worried that due to my calling, I spend so much time serving the church and the folk in it, there is little time to keep connected to all the equally brilliant and frustrating people outside it. I would like to keep involved in “secular” groups, and some day even have a social life. And I think you were just as (possibly even more) concerned for people outside religious assemblies as those broken people within.  So how do I balance serving you in and outside your church (and occasionally still sleep/see my family/read books)?

Jenny

(from Elgin)

My dear Jenny,

I love you very much. If that seems a strange way to start, I want you to realise that that’s in fact the real answer to your question: I love you and trust you along with all my brothers and sisters. In this new life I can’t do anything on my own but only along with you all. Don’t think I’m complaining. I can do so much more this way than I could in my own skin. So I know you’ll think out your answer to your own question whatever I say.

However…..

It’s Epiphany today, when people remember I’m for all humanity and not just for those who know they belong to God’s People. In fact, belonging to God’s People in truth is directing community life to those who’re outside it. Of course, the community should look after each other, educate each other, worship with each other- for the sake of the world God loves. Loving the world is not some kind of “religious” emotion; it’s a passionate enjoyment of the planet and its creatures; a liking for humanity in its good and evil, a pleasure in all reflections of the divine creativity in the universe. I didn’t go amongst tax-collectors and prostitutes because I was on a mission, but because I enjoyed their company.

If you lose touch with the world or forget how to enjoy it, you’ll be much less useful to my ministry than if you make time for it; even if some of the faithful don’t always understand. Have courage: it’s God who invented love for the world!

my love and laughter are with you always,

JESUS