A Synagogue, a Scroll, and The Full-filling WORD{{an advent worship post}}

"...and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.

He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written..." *

Here it was, the before-ages-began intentions of benevolent grace, 
your pursuing and saving love, 
strung out on words formed by Deity's vocal chords and resounding in real time to humanity's ear.
This was your custom, and I wonder...
Could this somewhat rote and habitual moment have been any more powerful?
Could these words, otherwise familiar and expected, have been any more profound?

This was your custom, and I wonder...
Were your sandals dusty as you entered that place?
Was there a certain spot in the room where you always sat?
What had you eaten for breakfast on this day when you would stand before them and unleash proclamation of your identity pounded out in a prophet's words fulfilled?

This was your custom, but on this day it was to be different.
After you read the familiar words of good news, liberty, healing, and unending favor; 
the stuff of which all who heard you were soul-desperate for, 
you rolled up the scroll and found your seat.
But this time there would be more words...

Words, sacred and divine, just like those in the scroll returned to the attendant but still warm from your touch.
These words would flow over your lips, not read off of a scroll, 
but from the very pages of your heart; the very heart of God.

"Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." *

These words transformed a scroll's rich prophecy into flesh and blood reality.
The workings of Isaiah's pen from hundreds of years before, were now all wrapped up in skin and dusty sandals and just standing there before them. 
You held their eyes, their minds marvelled at your words, 
but did they see? did they worship?
Did they see that as you read it, 
the very words of their only hope were read by the very One who was all of that hope fulfilled. 

Do we see? Do we worship?

You came for them, and you came for us.
We are the favored people, a rescued people, the proclaiming people. 
Your good news is our eternal story.
Your liberty is our forever living.
Your favor is our unending feast.

On that day, in a Nazareth Synagogue, 
and on this day, in my soul, 
you speak Your very Self, the Full-filling Word, 
in my hearing.
And here it is, 
your before-ages-began intentions of benevolent grace, 
your pursuing and saving love, 
stringing out on words formed by Deity's vocal chords and resounding in real time to my soul's ear.
And here is worship.

*Scripture referenced from Luke chapter 4:16-21

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.  And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day,  and 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 proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words  that were coming from his mouth..."