[Salvation]

Sunday Gospel Reflections

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Jer 1:4-5,17-19 II: 1Cor 12:31-13:13

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Gospel
Luke 4:21-30

²¹ And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
²² And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"
²³ And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself; what we have heard you did at Caper'na-um, do here also in your own country.'"
²⁴ And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country.
²⁵ But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Eli'jah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;
²⁶ and Eli'jah was sent to none of them but only to Zar'ephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
²⁷ And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Eli'sha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Na'aman the Syrian."
²⁸ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.
²⁹ And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.
³⁰ But passing through the midst of them he went away.

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Interesting Details

• It was customary in Jewish society for a son to carry on his father's trade and his grandfather's name. No one was ever expected to become something better than or to improve on the lot of the parents. This fact is the basic foundation of honor. Thus for Jesus to step shamefully beyond His family boundaries would be quite a scandal.
• (v.22) "Isn't he Joseph's son?" Luke quoted the popular opinion and confirmed that Jesus did not follow Joseph's trade thus breaching His family honor.
• In the Mediterranean world, the basic rule is also "look after your family first". Again, Jesus broke the rule. He healed the sick outside of His home town.
• The examples of Elijah and Elisha working miracles for the Gentiles simply emphasize the point that God's salvation is not limited to the Jews.
• The crowd's reaction foreshadows Jesus' passion and death, as His escape to continue His journey points ahead to Easter victory and the continuing spread of God's word.
• The passage announces the theme of prophetic rejection that had been predicted by the prophecy of Simeon (2:34). Jesus is rejected by His own and accepted by foreigners. The comparison's equations are simple:
  Jesus = a prophet
  Nazareth = Israel
  Capernaum = the Gentiles

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One Main Point

Jesus confirmed that He is the Messiah.

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Reflections

1. Jesus always shows His love through action. How do I show His love to my brothers and sisters?
2. How well do I listen or react to the people that I dislike even though their intentions are good?
3. It is difficult for us today to appreciate what Jesus suffered to show His love. Meditate on how great His love is for us.

[Salvation]

Sunday, February 03, 2013
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 Psalm 71:1-6, 15-17 1 Corinthians 12:31 -- 13:13 or 13:4-13 Luke 4:21-30 Fidélium ánimae per misericordiam Dei requiéscant in pace. Amen May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. -- Fidélium ánimae

[Verginius Rufus]

In Mark's Gospel (6.3) Joseph is not mentioned but Jesus himself is referred to as a carpenter (tekton--the Greek word can also apply to someone who works in stone or metal as well as in wood).

The translation they were using today had St. Paul say "so that I may boast" in I Cor. 133 instead of the more familiar "to be burned." The Vulgate has ita ut ardeam. (Latin ardere, ardeo, arsi, arsus: to burn)

The Greek manuscripts are divided. There is just a one-letter differnce in the Greek...if the reading with a theta is accepted, it means "burn," if the reading with the chi is accepted, it means "boast."