Gospel
Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company Inc.
Jesus began to speak in the synagogue: ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. They said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely?’
But he replied, ‘No doubt you will quote me the saying, “Physician, heal yourself” and tell me, “We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own countryside.”’
And he went on, ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.
‘There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.’
When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away.
(Luke 4:21–30)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
- Capernaum is a town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus performed miracles. It was also Peter's hometown.
- Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of Israel. He lived approximately 850 years before Jesus and was famed for resisting the idolatry of the time, as well as for his preaching and wonder working. Elisha was his successor.
- Both Syria and Sidon were close neighbours of Israel; however, they worshipped pagan gods and were not part of the chosen people. Despite this, both Elijah and Elisha worked wonders among them in God’s name. These two prophets reached out to the Gentiles when they found people of faith there.
Exploring the Word
This text continues from last week’s gospel, in which Jesus announces his mission in his hometown. His mandate is to bring hope to the hopeless and inclusion to the outcast. In today's text, we learn how his mission is received: initial approval, followed quickly by rejection! Jesus points out that God acts unexpectedly, and that his love and care are available to all people, not just to the people of Israel, even though their needs may be great. From the perspective of those in the synagogue, one of their own has dared to challenge their preconceptions, and they vent their disapproval with violence—a violence that will culminate on the cross. Jesus leaves Nazareth and never returns. The remaining action in the Gospel of Luke occurs in Capernaum and on the road to Jerusalem, where the final rejection will come to completion.
- Have you ever been genuinely shocked by something that someone you thought you knew well said?
- Discuss why the people of Nazareth may have been shocked by Jesus’ words.
- Has anyone been shocked by your decision to pursue a life of faith?
- Discuss the story of the two prophets who are mentioned in this text.
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
- ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ Is there anything within you that needs healing?
- ‘He won the approval of all.’ When have you won approval from others? How did you respond?
- Have you ever been ridiculed or rejected because of your faith? How did you, or can you, respond to this?
- This week, reach out to someone who has experienced rejection and offer solace to someone in need of healing.
- Have you ever had your opinions or comments treated with derision or distain? Perhaps you were saying something that you knew others may not want to hear. How did you feel? Were you able to hold your ground, or was your opinion simply ‘hustled’ out?
- Who are our modern-day prophets who speak words we may not want to hear? How are they sometimes treated?
- Use an adaptation of the collect this week:
Grant us, Lord our God,
that we may honour you with all our mind,
and love everyone with truth of heart.
Sharing the tradition
‘The mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church’ (CCC, §737). At the heart of the Church’s action in the world is the program that Jesus adopted in the synagogue at Nazareth. Continuing the mission of bringing hope to the hopeless and inclusion to the outcast motivates many agencies of the Church, both locally and globally. All Christians have a role to play in this mission. ‘By living with the mind of Christ, Christians hasten the coming of the reign of God, a kingdom of justice, love and peace’ (CCC, §2046).
- Discuss how the Church acts officially to implement Jesus' program in the world.
- Discuss the church agencies who work towards justice, peace and the integrity of creation—who labour to bring hope to the hopeless and inclusion to the outcast.
- Highlight the role that laypeople are called to play in this work.
Symbols and images
This text depicts the first of many rejections that Jesus experienced. The final rejection was, of course, to lead to the cross; however, the cross is not the end of the story, nor is this rejection in Nazareth. Jesus simply slips away and continues on the path he has chosen.
Living the Word
- How does your parish community work to bring hope and inclusion? What social justice groups or service ministries are maintained? Are there ways in which catechumens can become involved?
- Use the open Scriptures as a focus for prayer. Pray for all who are working to bring good news to the poor and hope to the hopeless. Pray for each other. A suitable song could be God Has Chosen Me (GA 497). Conclude with the prayer of exorcism in the RCIA at §94E.