Reflection
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Psalm 119: 97-102
Luke 4: 16-30
Today begins our trek through Luke’s book of the Gospel, that will culminate at the end of our Liturgical year, which occurs at the end of November. Jesus, at the onset of His instruction to those in whose midst He had lived for most of His earthly life, declares Himself the Messiah, and then shares the mission of the Messiah. Whether Jesus selected the reading from Isaiah that day or it had already been preselected for the day’s scripture reading, we do not know. Jesus reveals to those most familiar with Him, the people with whom he grew up, that He, this son of a carpenter, was in fact in the Messiah…and He had been in their midst all these years but they never knew it.
Initially, the people were ok with it and spoke highly of Him. And then the thoughts came – how could this son of a carpenter, who has been around us all these years be the Messiah? Jesus explains the mission of the Messiah, and that mission is to take care of the poor, the sick and those imprisoned. He does not mention a new earthly kingdom or the wealthy, or even the common guy. That was too much for the people listening to Him.
The people were so familiar with Jesus that they could not or would not accept Him for who He really is. Not only that, but Jesus explains using the stories of Elijah and Elisha, that the Messiah, or God, comes to those who are most in need. From the way they saw things, the healthy people were blessed by God and the Messiah they needed was the one who would establish a newly earthly kingdom. Jesus will explain that is not His mission.
So what about us? Have we become so comfortable with Jesus, so comfortable already knowing what He is all about, that we are actually missing what He is all about? Do we still see how we need Him? That family member or friend or classmate or coworker who does not want to hear about God from you anymore, will always love seeing God in you…and guess what….THAT is what will bring them to God...and THAT is carrying forth the mission of Christ.
It is a beautiful day! Go smile at God today!