Isaiah 61:1-2a
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor …
My uncle is a prison chaplain, ministering to inmates and staff in a high-security facility. Many of the inmates where he works suffer from severe mental illness. I wonder if anyone ever reads this text there — I’ve been meaning to ask him.
He tells me that although the idea of having a religion is pretty popular within the prison walls, Christianity is about the least popular choice. Why? Because many of the inmates see the weakness of the cross and reject it. They would rather express their spiritual side in a way that celebrates power.
It’s a complicated place, the prison. Some inmates do profess faith in Christ, often at a heavy cost within the closed society of inmates. As I mentioned, many would prefer a more macho savior. Yet they still hold Christmas parties, hosted by churches that are willing to come in and provide the refreshments. I have met some of the inmates, and they are complicated people.
I wonder what it would mean for them to experience release, liberty, and good news. How does the year of the Lord’s favor impact someone who is hardened against it?
For that matter, how do God’s promises impact us? Do we like what we hear when God speaks?