BUT HE PASSED THROUGH THE MIDST OF THEM AND WENT AWAY. (Luke 4: 24-30)

After Jesus was tempted in the desert, he went to the synagogue to inaugurate his public mission (cf. Luke 4:14-23). At the end of his inaugural message, “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.” The Gospel we meditate on today is in continuity with this episode.

A Prophet is not accepted in his native place: While still in the Synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus makes a surprising remark that contradicts the appreciation he just received from the crowd. He says: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his native place.” Upon hearing this, the same crowd that praised Jesus turns against him. They became furious, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill to hurl him down headlong. However, miraculously, he passed through their midst and went away. We have here a prefiguration of the agony of Jesus, during which we would witness the same attitude from the crowd on Palm Sunday. After singing “Hosanna to the son of David!”, they later shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him”.

        Telling the truth can sometimes hurt: John 1:11-12 says, “He came to his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Right from his birth, Jesus became a sign of contradiction. It is sometimes said that familiarity breeds contempt. Those in the synagogue felt they knew Jesus well enough, yet they failed to recognize who He truly was. This Gospel reminds us that when we stand up for the truth of the Gospel, we should be prepared to endure rejection and persecution. Sometimes, this rejection can come from those closest to us. However, we should remember that what makes us brothers and sisters of Jesus is our faithfulness to the will of God the Father.

        God’s salvation is for all: Why did Jesus's teaching infuriate those in the synagogue? By drawing examples from the stories of Elijah, who was sent to a widow in a foreign land (Zarephath), and Elisha, who cured Naaman, the Syrian, Jesus touches on an essential point in our relationship with God: God does not discriminate; instead, God reveals himself and bestows grace upon anyone who does His will. Those who listened to Jesus in the synagogue must have understood that he was challenging their sense of privilege as descendants of Abraham. The same question can be posed to us: Is it enough to be baptized and attend church regularly in other to be authentic an Christian? Do our actions guarantee our personal knowledge and encounter with Christ? Perhaps what is essential to Christ is our willingness to be transformed daily and be challenged by His saving Word.

        The Word of God is quite challenging: Far from being discouraged, when Jesus passed through the midst of the crowd, he continued to preach the Gospel with unwavering authority, amazing the people once again. Through our baptism, we are anointed as prophets, priests, and kings. We can fulfill our prophetic calling by emulating Jesu’s life. When we allow the Word of God to challenge us, we can become living Gospels for others. Therefore, we are encouraged to listen to the Word of God with sincere and open hearts.

“But he passed through the midst of them and went away.” Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, desires to lead us toward universal fraternity and love. Those who accept Him experience the great joy of being children of God. What matters most to God is our modest efforts to follow Christ, nurture the deep desire to grow in the ways of the Gospel, and not give up.