Homecoming
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up ... And went to the synagogue ...”
It is especially important for us all to get away as part of our regular self-care. It does not have to be far; it does not have to be expensive; it does not have to be for an extended period of time. But it works best to get away from our daily routine.
Time away affords us a change of perspective with fresh input and hopefully some rest. Time aways affords us the opportunity to see our lives and life patterns from a unique perspective. With that perspective, we are more empowered to see things differently and make better choices once we are back home. We are better equipped to reground ourselves in new patterns than we were before we left.
In Luke's gospel, Jesus gets away from Nazareth for a break – to find himself. He goes away and is baptized by his cousin John and then takes a trek through a wilderness area for a long time. There he assesses for himself what and who are most important to him. In Luke 4 he comes home – regrounded and clear-eyed about who he is and what he is about: "The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, and liberty to those oppressed." In getting away, Jesus comes home and finds his purpose in life.
Now, most vacations don't have that profound an outcome, but they do give us the opportunity to reset. Advent is a perfect time for that reflection within us. The new Christian year has begun (Dec. 1 officially this year), Christ is coming, and a Spirit-filled future is ahead of us.
What will coming home look like for you? What are you leaving behind from the past year? What are you planning to be and what are you planning to do in this new year? Where and who will you serve? What is the positive difference you want to make for the "kin-dom" of all people?
I know after our bucket-list Thanksgiving vacation, we will be staying close to home in 2025 – close to our house and close to our church family because we know these are the places from which we can make the biggest differences Christ wants us to make.
I look forward to seeing you in "the synagogue" to discover the same this season and in 2025.
Welcome home!
