This is the moment when the Prologue ends, and the main Act begins. Now, at last, Jesus is ready to embark on his public ministry. Home he comes from his ordeal in the desert, and next weekend, he trots along to synagogue, just as he always used to.
In my church we have a rota that decides who is going to read from the scriptures each week. Maybe they did in Jesus' synagogue, and maybe it was his turn. Or maybe the rabbi saw Joseph's Son back from his journeys, and thought that folks would like to hear his voice again. However it happened, Jesus got the opportunity to read the Scriptures and to speak.
They didn't give you the whole Bible, just one scroll. So Jesus just had Isaiah's writings to choose from. When I've finished reading Luke, I'm going to read Isaiah, a little section every day. I wonder which passage I might have chosen, if I'd been Jesus on this occasion?
The part that Jesus chose sounds autobiographical. Often the prophets talk about what God is doing to them, how his Spirit is giving them words to say, or deeds to do. Here and now, Jesus takes this words on his lips, and they sound like they were written for him. He has come, so he tells the neighbours he grew up with, with good news for poor people, freedom for oppressed people, healing for sick people.
Today, says Jesus, these words are coming true in your hearing.
To his spellbound audience, Jesus announces that he has come to show that God has a smiling face.
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