Expect the Unexpected
Posted on Jan 29, 2025 by Heather Lewis
We are in one of my favorite seasons in the church year — Epiphany, where we relive the moments when Jesus is revealed to us as the Son of God. In last week’s Gospel from Luke, Jesus reads Isaiah’s prophecy in his home synagogue. He tells them that He is the one anointed to proclaim good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recover sight for the blind, and set the oppressed free.
This week we hear that after he reads the prophecy, he is rejected by the people in his hometown, who then try to throw him off a cliff for calling them out.
I wonder if the hardest thing for his neighbors and friends to understand was that Jesus was one of them, so how could he be their Messiah and Savior? “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” How could this kid from their own town be the One they’ve been waiting for? He was just a carpenter’s son! And yet Jesus couldn’t have been more different than what they expected Him to be.
As we start a new year together, many of us are looking forward to a fresh start, with new opportunities. Others are hoping things don’t change too much, unless it’s for the better. We have our own ideas and expectations for how our lives should play out in 2025, and we may not be anticipating the effect others might have on our plans.
I believe those “others” are going to be placed in our lives to help us expand our expectations. Perhaps people who are different than you will surprise you by enriching your life. You may be presented with an opportunity to participate in something daunting that will bring unexpected meaning and purpose into your life.
Although the beginning of this year has been divisive, my hope is that we can align our expectations. Let us see our differences as strengths, especially when we work together for good. Gandhi once said, “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” Be encouraged, and lift each other up!
In His love,
Heather Lewis
Director of Worship and Music
Director of Youth Ministry