Jesus’ Ministry
February 2, 2019
Scripture Reading: Luke 4:21-30
Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
It is easy to say “Let your light shine”; it is much harder to do. Just ask anyone who has ever run for office. When we think we have a message that is desperately needed in the world, one that could solve problems, make all of life more meaningful, how do we get that across without being perceived as arrogant or out of our element particularly in our hometown?
Jesus was controversial from the beginning of his ministry. He was challenging the norms of his people that were shaped by the passing of religious truths through filters of life that had become very comfortable. What else does a society need if they have a good set of rules and follow them? 1 Corinthians 13 tells us but [if I] do not have love, I gain nothing. That was Jesus’ message then and still is today.
Prayer: God who is Love, forgive us when we ignore the most important part. Help us so experience your love that we cannot help but love ourselves and love others as we love ourselves. Amen.