My apologies for noting last week’s reflection as being for the Third Sunday of Epiphany when it was actually the Second. That’s because Epiphany was transferred in the Lectionary to Sunday 5th January but is actually on 6th January. Last week was therefore the Third Sunday in which Epiphany has been the focus but only the Second Sunday of the season of Epiphany when counting from 6th, hence today being the Third. Sorry if that is too much church-speak!
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus, in Luke 4:14-21.
“If something happens, I would want there to be somebody who would remember that someone named D. Berger had once lived. This will make things easier for me in the difficult moments.” David Berger, a Pole shot dead at the age of 22 in the Holocaust.
Tomorrow is Holocaust Memorial Day, when those who have died in the Holocaust and genocides since are remembered, lest we forget. This year’s theme is For a better future and it marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp, and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia. For there to be a better future, there has to be a consideration of the past and Jesus’ remark as he reads the words of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth indicates how much this influenced the foundation of his ministry. Handed the scroll of Isaiah, written in the eighth century BC, Jesus selects chapter 61:1,2 and, filled with the Spirit himself at his baptism, he reads it. Jesus echoes Isaiah’s emphasis on preaching good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight for the blind, letting the oppressed go free and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favour. These words were familiar to all listening – but then Jesus sits down and declares that this has been fulfilled “today”. On hearing this, the congregation is astounded and he debates with them in the manner of a rabbi or teacher, leading them to say in astonishment, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” So angry do they become that Jesus is driven out and they even try to throw him off a cliff before he goes on his way.
Trying to do away with Jesus indicates one of the characteristics of the development of genocide, which it’s been suggested never just happens. The organisation Genocide Watch indicates that there are 10 stages to its development: classification (them and us); symbolisation (Jews having to wear yellow stars); discrimination; dehumanisation (Tutsis were called ‘cockroaches’); organisation; polarisation (such as propaganda); preparation (the Final Solution hid the Nazis’ real intent); persecution; extermination and finally denial by the perpetrators and others. (See genocidewatch.com for further information.) It’s interesting to note how this might also apply to the life and death of Jesus and his followers down the ages as well as to some of the ongoing issues of today.
If a better future is to be even a possibility, perhaps the words and actions of Jesus are helpful. He took the writings of a past prophet, applied them to a hopeful future and declared them to be fulfilled that very day. As the good news of the ceasefire is declared (though not all agree with this) and captives are freed following such historic as well as current carnage and suffering in the Middle East, could this lead to a more hopeful future or might it herald a resumption of unresolved past hostilities? Today – and every new day – will hold opportunities to shape in the present moment a better future outcome in this and the lesser conflicts we all face in so many different ways. What is being fulfilled in our hearing as we do?
With my prayers; pob bendith,
Christine, Priest Guardian.