Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading

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January 31, 2023
Scripture Reading
Luke 4:21–30

Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (NRSV)

Reflection

Imagine the lead story in the Nazareth News just before Jesus’s visit: “Hometown hero—Joseph’s son—returns from preaching, healing, turning water into wine and wrestling with the devil.” I can sense the anticipation of the huge, and maybe a little restless, crowd that came to the Synagogue to see Jesus.

After Jesus read from the Scriptures, the crowd was enthusiastic and on the edge of their seats—Jesus silences them by saying: “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself; what we have heard you did in Capernaum, do here also in your own country.’”

Yes, indeed, they wanted something for the hometown crowd—he was one of them, after all. But Jesus reminds them of the stories of the prophets Elijah and Elisha who ministered to those of the least significance—to widows and lepers, who weren’t even from the Prophets’ homelands.

In a blink of an eye, the adoring crowd becomes an angry mob—leading Jesus to the cliff “that they might throw him down headlong.” All because they wanted the Lord’s favor just for themselves—and Jesus didn’t deliver. But “passing through the midst of them Jesus went away.”

I’m struck by this near-death experience—with Jesus walking away untouched. Jesus went on to share grace and do justice in a world so desperately in need. Where are we in this story? Are we the angry mob/the congregation wanting it our way? Or are we with Jesus in his work with the least, the lost and the lonely—including all in the kingdom of God.

Prayer

Dear Lord, forgive my selfishness and desire to make my faith all about me. Thank you for the inclusivity of your grace. I am here to join you in your work of doing justice. Help me to know what I can do and say in the ministry of your love. Amen.

Written by Marc Miller, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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