Monday – 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel - Luke 4:16-30

A Rush to Judgement

Mount Precipice, outside Nazareth (Mt Tabor in the distance)

Ever had that experience of running into an old relative, someone who hasn’t seen you since you were little and they proceed to treat you like you were still that little child they used to play with. It’s as if, from their perspective, you never changed, you never grew up.  And when you try to tell them all that you have accomplished and the bright future you are working toward, they almost refuse to believe it – no, not my little boy!

That is what’s happening in today’s Gospel.  Jesus has returned to Nazareth after being baptized by John and praying for 40 days in the desert.  At this point, He has done nothing – no miracles, no parables, no preaching- nothing at all. And He goes to the synagogue to offer His first sermon.  And He reads from the Prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free” It is a prophecy about the Messiah, the long hoped-for Messiah.  And He then tells them clearly that today that prophecy is fulfilled!  I am the Messiah. 

They are enraged and upset.  This can’t be; we know this man!  He is just the son of the carpenter. We saw him playing as a child!  He is just a Jew like any of us.  They become so upset that they drag Him out of the synagogue, out of Nazareth, to the top of Mount Precipice to throw Him off the cliff.  But He passes through their midst and leaves to begin His mission.  In spite of their denial, their hatred, and their doubt that He will amount to anything, Jesus begins His Mission.

We have all faced moments of pushback from others, moments when we start a new job or career or a new life and all we get from others is doubt!  You won’t make it; you won’t be able to handle it!  Do you think he’s really going through with it?  He’ll never amount to anything!  Moments that make us doubt our choices and perhaps rethink our life goals.  Moments when we question our abilities and our resolve.

But even though we have had moments like that in the past, we got through them.  Moments when God was with us all along!  So maybe today could be the day to spend in gratitude, to thank God for all He has done for us to get us this far in life.  To thank Him for His many blessings that gave us the strength and courage to move on in life. To thank Him for those special people in our lives who love us, encourage us, push us and correct us when we need it, and people who gave us the courage to move forward and succeed.  People like my mom, who celebrates her birthday today.

Happy 101st Birthday, Mom!  Continue to get rest and get well!

 

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