Words of Grace and Love

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on January 27, 2022

“All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” (Luke 4:22)

If only God’s people understood the depth of meaning behind the “gracious words” that flowed from Jesus’ heart into his speech! In last Sunday’s gospel, we read Jesus’ gracious words from Isaiah’s scroll. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”  Jesus proclaimed that He was the One sent from God to bring the good news that physical, mental, and spiritual wholeness is possible through Him; that liberation from all forces that captivate us interiorly or in the external domains is possible. Our spiritual and physical eyes can be so healed that we are awakened to the immeasurable love and redeeming grace of God expressed through His Son, Jesus Christ. The people were excited by Jesus’ proclamation, but something shifted. Their emotions turned to outrage!

This Sunday, as we continue reading where we left off last weekend (Luke 4:21-30), we consider what caused this shift in emotions. Jesus knew that the people would have wanted Him to perform great miracles in his hometown, Nazareth, like he did in Capernaum. But instead of performing miracles, Jesus prompted people to consider His divine purpose by retelling two miraculous events recorded in ancient Scriptures. In the events, the prophets Elijah and Elisha performed miracles for the wellbeing of two Gentile persons, the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Commander of the King of Aram’s army. The notion that God’s good news included Gentiles, regarded as sinners, was intolerable. The faith of God’s people rested solidly on being God’s chosen people, select and special. The people were so outraged that they drove Jesus out of town, intending to hurl him off a cliff. But Jesus escaped miraculously.

Was Jesus rejecting His hometown folk? Take a close look, for example, at the story of Elisha’s healing of Naaman’s leprosy. Naaman was not only healed of leprosy. He had a conversion experience and worshipped God, thus declaring that the Lord is God not only of the Israelites but of all people. God’s good news is God’s love and undeserved grace for the peace and wellbeing of all people. No longer do we need to compete against each other, presuming that God’s love is preferential. Jesus, filled with the Spirit, spoke gracious words from a heart overflowing with love for all.  May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts reflect our Savior’s love and grace for all.  Amen

Tags: faith, good news, healing, miracles, chosen people, gracious words

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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