TEXT: The Gospel according to St. Luke 4:21-30

21 He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

A silence lingered as the words from the lips of Jesus entered the hearts of all who listened. The text reminds us that everyone there was intent upon his words.

Why should it be not so, since this is the Word of God who brought all creation into being and calls each created being to fulness that God has made a creature for in life.

The Nazarenes respected Jesus greatly, but, then, there was "something new" that "bothered them."

22 And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Is not this the son of Joseph?"

It was the issue of Joseph.  The carpenter of Nazareth, and they had seen Jesus with Joseph. There was Mary in the background, and, those rumors in town about the something miraculous that had taken place in the life of this family. Yet was this not Joseph's son? , They thought.

Jesus, knowing their thoughts,

23 He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'"

Do we not remember the Roman Centurion and the young man who was his servant, and the healing  of that "outsider," a curse to those with more bigoted minds toward Roman domination?

All was "okay" with the people, until they could not "dictate" their idea of whom the Messiah was in their minds.

Is this not so, today, within hearts that stray from God and want their own way, as straying sheep?  We would not do it Jesus way.  We would do it our own way and forget the absolutes of the faith delivered by the Holy Spirit through the Church of the Firstborn, (Ephesians 3).

Then, Jesus spoke again, saying "Truly," (amen) a prophet is not accepted in his own country, just like Elijah and Elisha were not accepted in their days, because of the strong message of God to the people of Israel.

Yet, some of  those accepted the message, but, they were in the minority.

24 And he said, "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
25 Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
26 It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
27 Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."

This like saying that a general of Saddam Hussein was healed by Elisha, a matter that would still arouse not so little concern in modern Israel, or, some in the Church, I dare say.

The message roused the people.

They were up in arms with anger, because of these words.  Is it not strange how words from God both irritate us and soothe us?

28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury.
29 They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
30 But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Some thoughts come to mind, as we look at the passage.

The most disturbing though is that of whom Jesus really is in the midst of people who are rejecting what God is doing in Christ.  In the days of those original Nazarenes of Nazareth, Jesus came with a direct message about whom he is.  Today, I, Jesus,  have fulfilled the scriptures in your ears.

In the 20th century, and likely, the 21st century coming, humankind will grow ever more like the Nazarene people of Nazareth with a "new kind" of thinking, post-modern thinking.  This kind of thinking does not wish to conform with the dogmatic thinking of the Church.  It is thinking that tends to allow "anythingism" to become the popular direction for the Church.

Obviously, this is not possible with God, since, God is Holy, Holy, Holy.

Man is separated from God through sin.

Humans needed a Redeemer.

God provided our Redeemer in Christ through Mary under the protection of Joseph.
The people of Nazareth, because of their reaction, were too zealous in their own viewpoints. The same problem exists today, a too enthusiastic consideration of ones own viewpoints, as opposed to God's self-revealed truths.

Note, however, when the story ends here in this Gospel reading, Jesus passes right through the crowd that was going to throw Jesus over the hill.

What is our understanding of Jesus?

Is Jesus Immanuel you you -- God with us?

Is Jesus the Lamb of God fully present for you in the Eucharist?

Is Jesus the Subject of my life and your life?

Jesus cannot be anything other than the Supreme Head of the Church for you and me.

The Jesus I know has once and for all established his Church upon St. Peter, the earthly, visible, head on earth.

Without this satability, we are subject to being toss about with every wind of teaching.

You see, we are being "tossed about," as a the people of the planet, with every wind of teaching.  Yet, it does not need to be so in the Bark of Peter.  The Church is sentered on Jesus and the revelation of God through the Church that Christ built.

St. Peter calls all to growth in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

It is difficult to Love the Person we do not know initmately.

2 Peter 3:17-18

17 Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.
18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. (Amen. eternity. (Amen.)

The challenge for our day is simple -- forget the wisdom of the world that is passing away, and, ask God and Mary for the grace to know and participate fully in the "better covenant," the "everlasting covenant," in the Person and work of Jesus.

Jesus will pass through the midst of those who will not follow, as we pass through the midst of bushes with thorns.  The Last Adam is Victorious.

See.  He has shown us our Mother, Mary, coronated.
Let us follow Jesus through the Fire of Love of the Holy Spirit and come to the Father through Jesus.

Unlike those at Nazareth in those days, let us be like the Blessed Mother who had the faith that pondered these things in her heart.

Deus et Sanctissima