Reflection
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Psalm 119
Luke 4:16-30
Not exactly happy happenings in our gospel today. Jesus goes to His hometown of Nazareth for a visit and is invited to read from the scrolls – quite an honor. Not just anyone was welcomed to do so. Going home is always supposed to be an uplifting affair where we are welcomed and made to feel happy simply because we are getting reacquainted. Not so much for Jesus that day.
Sometimes I think we get a little too comfortable with Jesus. Yes, He does want to be closer to us than anyone else, and yes, He wants to be our friend. He, though, is much more than that. Jesus calls us to join Him in His mission. We see in the gospel that Jesus came to announce the Good News to the poor, set free those who are bound to sin, recover the sight of the blind which are those who just do not see God, and proclaim a time of great joy.
Those who were listening to Jesus just could not believe that moment promised by Isaiah had finally come. The Messiah was right there with them. We too sometimes limit God, don’t we. We know intellectually that God can do all things because He is God, but then in time of crisis we tend to doubt.
This day, take time to reflect on those areas of your life where maybe you are not really trusting like you should. We get weary of the constant struggle, and tend to want to just give up. Never, ever, give up! Look again at the promises Jesus makes in today’s gospel AND BELIEVE!
It is a great day! Go smile at God today!