Good News For The Poor

In church on Sunday Esther read from Luke 4. Jesus goes into the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth. He reads aloud from the ancient prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners  and recovery of sight for the blind to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Jesus then saysthis is me. This is my manifesto, my mission statement: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Today Liz Truss becomes our Prime Minister. She has many major issues to deal with – war in Ukraine, climate change, strikes, rising inflation, energy prices…

I was chatting to Steve last night about rising energy costs… He’s been paying £70 per month; his energy supplier asked him to pay £350… Steve’s employed, intelligent and able to argue with his energy company.

What about the weak, vulnerable, elderly, those struggling with life. Will our new Prime Minister bring good news to the poor?

This  morning I had coffee with Allan… talking about his family… life at his home in Brazil… corruption in politics… President Bolsonaro and the right-wing political system… the lack of good news for the poor in Brazil.

I watched the devastating floods in Pakistan again on the news. Homes, farms, infrastructure have been swept away and many lives have been lost. Pakistan’s government describe the floods: ‘climate-induced humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.’

Good news for the poor?

Musing… Jesus words… ‘…proclaim good news to the poor…’ financially poor, psychologically poor, spiritually poor, socially poor, physically poor…

Jesus priority isn’t belief or religious practices. His concern is for the weak, vulnerable, disadvantaged, poor. He doesn’t condemn, patronise or ignore them. He brings them good news.

Musing… As a follower of Jesus in Lowestoft here, today, what does bringing good news to the poor look like? How do I do it?