There is a somewhat peculiar contrast in the reaction of the Nazareth people to Jesus in our Gospel reading today.
Jesus has set out his programme for ministry in terms of the prophet Isaiah and this won the approval of all those who heard it. It is not so much Jesus’ local origins as “the son of Joseph” which causes the consternation and change of attitude as his declaration that his message is not for one privileged group, but for all people.
The two incidents to which Jesus refers apply to the prophet Elijah and his disciple and successor Elisha. Both the widow at Zarephath and the Syrian military officer Naaman were Gentiles. The implication is that Capernaum is also to some extent foreign territory: the townsfolk are depicted as expecting Jesus to perform such works in a properly Jewish setting. What seems to enrage them is the notion that Gentiles can share in the good news that Jesus brings. They are intent on doing away with him, but he somehow eludes them and escapes.
Thus at the outset of Jesus’ ministry, we find that he is rejected by the very people who should have embraced him and his message. This theme will recur through Luke’s two volume book, the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles.
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REFLECT
The theme runs through the Gospel tradition that Jesus’ message is for all people and not restricted to any one particular group. We may understand this easily enough in terms of the split between Judaism and Christianity: this bitter quarrel is reflected in the writings of the New Testament, the Christian scriptures.
But the scriptures are addressed to us today, in our time and place. Perhaps we are being asked today if there are people who are considered beyond the pale: are there groups who are regarded as not acceptable to the community for one reason or another? Who are told that they are not welcome at the Eucharist? And why? What about gay people? Those whose married life did not turn out as they had hoped and find themselves barred from the sacraments? What is the good news as far as they are concerned? One thing apparently not realised, or perhaps overlooked, is that the only people affected by the official rulings are those to whom the Church matters, to whom the Eucharist and the sacraments are important. There are some who attend Mass weekly but do not receive Communion because their situation is deemed unacceptable. In today’s Gospel episode, the townsfolk of Nazareth rise up violently against Jesus because he points out that the prophets Elijah and Elisha ministered in remarkable ways to people who were outside the nation of Israel: he says that his ministry is along the same lines, to those who will accept him and his message. Salvation is for all, especially those most in need.
Who are most in need of the love of God today? Who feel excluded by the Church? What would Jesus do?
learn
- The stories of Elijah and Elisha are found in the books of Kings.
- There are echoes of the stories of these two prophets in Luke’s presentation of Jesus as prophet.
- Capernaum is the town on the shore of the Lake of Galilee which Jesus makes the base for his ministry when he leaves Nazareth.
do
Think about how your parish can welcome those who feel rejected – and see what you can do to draw them into the community.