February 3 // 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Responsorial Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 or 13:4-13
Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

This Sunday’s Gospel from Luke continues the story begun in last Sunday. Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue and announced that “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” The initial reaction of the people was quite positive, but then things turned for the worse.

Jesus declared that his neighbors will presume that he will do in Nazareth the same wonderful things that he had done or will do in Capernaum. But Jesus added that a prophet is never recognized as such in his hometown. And he reminded them of the prophets, Elijah and Elisha, centuries before, who brought needed food and healing to foreigners, ahead of their fellow Israelites.

This made his neighbors furious, and they tried to throw him off the top of the hill on which Nazareth was built, but Jesus “passed through the midst of them and went away.”
Two interesting things to reflect on in this passage: the admiration which turned to anger (the attempt to kill Jesus and his escape) look forward to his death and resurrection. And the references to Elijah and Elisha point toward the Christian mission to the Gentiles.

Thanks be to God!

Sheryl Zabel Pastoral Minister, RCIA