HOMILY FOR 22ND MONDAY ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
HOMILY FOR 22ND MONDAY ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: NO PROPHET IS ACCEPTED IN HIS HOMETOWN
BY: Fr Abu Evaristus
“All in the synagogue were wrathful when they heard this. And they rose 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.” (Luke 4:28-29)
In today’s Gospel passage, what began as a happy reception of Jesus eventually turned into an attempt to kill him. What was responsible for this change of attitude? We humans often fail to value what belongs to us.
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Jesus was given the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah to read. When he finished reading, the people were eager to hear what He would say. Jesus returned the scroll to the attendant and began, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” In other words, Jesus said: “I am the Messiah. I am the one Isaiah was talking about.”
As the people listened to Jesus, they were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth, but when Jesus’ words began to sink in, they became troubled. Could he be the Messiah? Is this not the same Jesus we know? Why is He trying to claim what He is not?
The people of Nazareth thought they knew everything about Jesus. In Matthew’s version of this encounter, they mentioned the names of the supposed brothers and sisters of Jesus to show that Jesus was an ordinary carpenter’s son. They took offence at Jesus for trying to claim He is God; as a result, Jesus did not work many miracles there. (Cf. Matthew 13:54-58)
Jesus was surprised at their poor reception. He told them, “A prophet is never appreciated in his hometown.” We often despise what belongs to us. We look down on our family members, our home, our community, and even our country. Like the people of Nazareth, we don’t believe God can take flesh among us.
Jesus further told them how they had always looked down on the prophets. As a result, foreigners like the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian received Divine intervention while they (the chosen children of God) were left out. This was a truth too hard to swallow. The people rushed at Jesus and wanted to kill him.
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