Epiphany 3C - 2025

Sermon for Epiphany 3C
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
The Rev. Andrew McLarty

In the days of the prophet Isaiah, the people of God found themselves in dire circumstances. Assyria, the great superpower of the time, loomed large, threatening to destroy the very heart of the Promised Land. Though the southern kingdom of Judah was spared exile during this period, their existence was far from peaceful.

They lived in fear, burdened by external threats and internal struggles. Eventually they, too, would be removed and relocated decades later during the Babylonian exile. Even as the Judeans were finally free to return home, it would not restore the glory they had known under kings like David and Solomon. Instead, they lived under the dominion of successive empires: Persians, Greeks, and Romans. They longed for true freedom and joy.

And yet, in this context of despair, Isaiah delivers a message of hope: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. These words, spoken to a people weary of oppression, promise healing for the brokenhearted, liberation for the captives, and comfort for those who mourn. They are words of divine compassion, a vision of a world where God’s justice and mercy reign.

Centuries later, these same words echo in a synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus stands to read from the scroll of Isaiah and declares, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. With this bold statement, Jesus makes clear that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. He has come to embody this good news, to be the one who brings liberation, healing, and restoration ”not just for Israel, but for all people.”

Notice how Jesus’ mission is centered on compassion for the marginalized. The poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, these are the people prioritized in His ministry. His good news is not abstract or theoretical; it is tangible and transformative.

• "To proclaim good news to the poor":  refers to delivering a message of hope and salvation to those who are marginalized and struggling.
• "To bind up the brokenhearted": means to comfort and heal those who are emotionally distressed. 
• "To proclaim freedom for the captives":  symbolizes the release from spiritual bondage and oppression.

As followers of Christ, we are called to continue His work. The Church is not simply a gathering place for worship but a community sent out into the world to proclaim good news by word and action.

Compassion is the blood for those who bear Christ’s name. It is the heartbeat of the Gospel. When we prioritize the needy, when we stand with the marginalized, we participate in the Kingdom work that Jesus began. This is the challenge and the joy of being the Church.

As we reflect on Isaiah’s prophecy and Jesus’ fulfillment of it, let us hear these words as both a promise and a commission. God’s Spirit empowers us, just as it empowered Jesus, to be bringers of good news, healers of broken hearts, and advocates for the needy. May we take up this call with courage, trusting that in our acts of love and mercy, the Kingdom of God continues to break into the world.

Amen.