Isaiah 61:1-4, read by Melvin Ogle, member of Broadway:

1The 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,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
    to comfort all who mourn,
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

 

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, 2021, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

 

Click here to view the sermon on YouTube.