Vol.5 No.21 DoM Gospel Reflection – Luke 4:21-31
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time—January 31, 2016
By: Ingrid Smith Franklin
I could hardly wait for the Alabama vs. Clemson game to start! Cheering, shouting and losing my mind whenever Clemson made a touchdown was pretty much the way things went the entire night. The excitement and anticipation was exhausting, but finally the results were in my favor. We won, Roll Tide Roll! I was thrilled to hear Jake Coker, an amazing young man from our home town, speak and represent Mobile so well. I eagerly anticipated interviews with others who know him, -his family members, friends, teachers, neighbors… people I may know. We love to make a human connection with people who are doing great and extraordinary things. It gives us a sense of hope and encouragement that we are a part of something wonderful.
The situation was much the same for Jesus . He was out in the world doing great and extraordinary things. In Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. Jesus – the prophet, the preacher, the healer, the miracle-worker, the teacher – has come to preach a sermon before his hometown crowd. They were initially excited – but before the sermon was over, the cheering, the home town pride, the associations of knowing family ties, and the excitement of absorbing his sermon evolved into an angry mob. Why were they so fickle and why did they turn so treacherously against Jesus?
Jesus’ assignment from God was to fulfill the kingdom of God, rather than satisfying the prospects or ambitions of his neighbors, and they were disappointed and offended by his provocative proclamation of fulfilling scripture. They wanted Jesus to heal, and perform miracles, signs and wonders but just for show. All they wanted was to carry out their sense of selfish pride that sees an inside track into a future that could possibly shape and mold their own needs and their own ends or a better reputation for their town. Perhaps having Jesus as an insider in the Synagogue, a representative of them would bring favor on their town. Remember In John 1:46, Nathanial says, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Who knows what kind of town they had in order to obtain that kind of reputation. They were blinded by glamour and not the truth. They did not have faith and willingness to believe that he was who he suggested he is: a Prophet, the son of God. Their lack of faith saw him as an opportunity for liberation or “just” the son of Joseph as they whispered among themselves.
So Jesus refers to two prophets, Elijah and Elisha, who were rejected by their own people and subsequently took their message to the Gentiles. The Gentiles accepted Elijah and Elisha’s message.
Wow! The people of Nazareth were filled with anger when they heard that. They wanted to kill Jesus by throwing him head first over a cliff, but he passed through them and left town.
Jesus was led home by the Spirit. His people could not receive him because they were blinded by their own ambitious desires. Although they were amazed by what he said they still did not understand the message. Therefore he stated a much quoted line “no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”
Luke is clearly forewarning the crucifixion here. But he also has in mind the larger mission of the church in the world. In John 1:11-12, “He came into his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe his name.” It was precisely because he came to others that his own people did not accept him. They wanted him to themselves, or not at all.
We must accept Christ not only for ourselves but we must go out and proclaim the good news for all to have a share in the Kingdom. As Daughters of Mary we must keep in mind the mission of the Church to bring as many souls to Christ as possible. We will come across those who may not accept what we have to share we may also face challenges that may be unpleasant however we must continue to spread the good news of the Gospel.
Our incentive for this is in the second reading 1 Corinthians where Paul tells us that Love is the more excellent way that gives life, heals hurts, sustains hope and endures trials. To carry on the good news we need faith, hope and love . The greatest of these is love because although faith and hope are the only paths to God, God is love.
As Christians we are proud of Christ and to be his followers. We know Mary his Mother and Joseph his Father. We also know that he is the son of God , the Word made flesh and we know the kingdom is at hand. Let’s not keep this all to ourselves but profess it to the world!
Amen.
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