January 31, 2010 4th Ordinary Sunday Jer. 1:4-5, 17-19; 1 Cor. 12:31-13:13; Lk. 4:21-30 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:   http://www.usccb.org/nab/013110.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Jeremiah and Luke express the strong biblical motif of the prophet called by God, but opposed and rejected by those to whom he is sent. Jeremiah is told to gird up his loins, that he will be a “pillar of iron” and a “wall of brass.” The Gospel recounts not only the rejection of Jesus, but an unsuccessful attempt to kill him.   The Gospel tells of the enthusiastic reception of Jesus’ inaugural sermon by his townsfolk, “they were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”. Yet suddenly the mood changes. They seem surprised that the “home town” boy can speak so eloquently. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” The rejection escalates as Jesus reads their real thoughts: the people want him to do for them the kind of mighty works he performed in Capernaum. Jesus counters by quoting a well-known proverb, “No prophet is accepted in his own native place.” In the Gospels Jesus is not accepted by his own family, except for Mary, and no disciple was a member of his family. The folks at Nazareth want a domesticated Jesus at their disposal.   Jesus tells two parallel stories of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Elijah was one of the most heralded Israelite prophets. He was powerful in word and deed. He was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot and was expected to return as precursor of the Messiah. Jesus calls attention to Elijah’s gift of miraculous food to a widow from Zarephath during a famine and parallels this with a reference to the healing of a Syrian leper, Naaman, by Elijah’s disciple Elisha. Hearing this, the townspeople try to kill Jesus.   These readings challenge the church today. Prophets are rarely accepted among their own. Archbishop Oscar Romero was hated not simply because of his commitment to liberation theology and his advocacy on behalf of the poor, but because he was seen as turning away from the upper classes, which felt the church was “their own.”   Jesus tells us that his promise is already fulfilled.  Jesus’ promise was complete the moment he began his ministry. It means that salvation is based upon our decision, not our results; that God’s plan is already complete; and that since the Good News is fulfilled, we can live fearlessly.   <<   Previous: 3rd Ordinary Sunday  | Next: 5th Ordinary Sunday >>   Go Back to SERMONS (Year C)