When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

–Luke 4.16-19

•  When was the last time you expected to be welcomed but found people’s reaction to you less than welcoming?
  
• Is there a difference between joy and happiness in life? What might it be?
  
• Why do you think Jesus chooses this portion of Isaiah to read in his hometown?
  
• To whom do you proclaim release, recovery, freedom, and God’s favor?  How do you proclaim it to others by your words and actions?

We all value our freedom; much of our lives is an effort to claim our freedom from others and to create a life on our own terms and for ourselves. But much of our freedom has to do with how we relate and connect with others; at its best, we come to gather together as a church to remember this, to hear the story of God’s love and liberation, and to have the strength to go out and live it. 

Come hear this story of release and favor at Trinity Commons Sunday at 6pm, then stay to enjoy supper with us and find the value of relationships that are formed from the longing to be free, which is the good news.