Servant of the Word: Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

“Jesus Rejected”
by the Illustrator of Jerome Nadal's
'Evangelicae Historiae Imagines', 1593

Readings for Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time [1][2]

Commentary:

Commentary on 1 Thes 4:13-18

This passage from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians reassures the Church at Thessalonica that those who have already passed from this life to the next will not be forgotten in the resurrection that will take place at the second coming of Christ. Rather they will be raised with him – first. Then those faithful followers still alive will be taken up to heaven. (see also Wisdom 3:1-9)

It is important to understand, when reading this passage that it is clear St. Paul expected the Parousia – the second coming, to occur during his own lifetime. This passage would emphasize the need for preparedness and vigilance, a common theme in the Gospels published later.

CCC: 1 Thes 4:13-14 1012; 1 Thes 4:14 649, 989; 1 Thes 4:16 1001; 1 Thes 4:17 1025; 1 Thes 4:18 1687

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Commentary on Ps 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

This song of praise exhorts the people to praise the Lord for his wondrous works of creation. The reason for this exhortation is that God will come to rule the earth with his justice. In this passage we see the forerunner of the understanding of the New Jerusalem – the Heavenly Kingdom.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gospel: Luke 4:16-30

Commentary on Lk 4:16-30

In this passage from St. Luke’s Gospel we find the Lord back in his home town of Nazareth. He reads from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and then tells those present that he has come to fulfill the oracle he proclaimed (“he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind”). These were clear references to the miraculous works he had already performed in other parts of the country. The Lord saw that they were expectation that he would perform signs there as well but the lack of faith would prevent him. Those congregated knew him form boyhood and did not believe he was the Messiah or even a prophet.

In response to this unbelief, Jesus brought out two examples from the stories about the Prophets that demonstrated that those unworthy of God’s grace were ignored in favor of more worthy subjects. This caused the wholesale uprising against him and he left them. In the eyes of those former friends and neighbors, Jesus had committed blasphemy, punishable by death. But, because they were uncertain given the power and authority they had witnessed, none dared lay a hand on him. “He passed though the midst of them and went away.”

CCC: Lk 4:16-22 1286; Lk 4:16-21 436; Lk 4:18-19 695, 714; Lk 4:18 544, 2443; Lk 4:19 1168

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection:

The episode in Jesus’ ministry we see depicted in St. Luke’s Gospel when Jesus goes to the place where he grew up is a foretaste of where his mission will lead him. He comes home, not to a hero’s welcome, but to anger and near tragedy. The story is analogous to a common business cliché that defines an “expert” as someone who comes from out of town and carries a brief case. The implication is that a person who is in your midst cannot be an “expert,” that level of knowledge must reside outside the local area.

The situation in Nazareth, on a human level, was understandable. The Son of Mary and Joseph returns home. Rumors of his exploits may have reached them. He had become a Rabbi, a teacher of the faith. He wandered around (consorting with all kinds of people) and was now coming back to his friends and neighbors. We can imagine some of the men (and women) of Nazareth talking to each other before he arrived. “He’d better not try to put on airs around us. We know him and his family.”

When he is invited to speak at the Synagogue he tells them that the boy they watched grow up and the young man who had learned the carpenter trade at the elbow of Joseph was a great prophet – even quoting from Isaiah at them – like he was something special. They were sorry for Joseph and Mary but he had to be stopped so they took him out of town with the idea of killing him for his blasphemy. It was permitted, in fact it was their obligation, probably condoned and encouraged by the local Rabbi.

But there was something else at work. The words he spoke and the way he said them – this was different. Never mind that they had heard the book of Isaiah before. Others had always used future tense –looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Jesus taught with authority, as if the Prophet had come back to life in him, making the words real and present. It stirred them inside. It frightened them. While their rational minds said “We know this young man.” In the backs of their minds the truth was screaming at them – here is something new, the likes of which have never been seen before. And they stopped what they were doing, staring at him in fear and hesitation. Seeing this reaction, Jesus pushed through them without resistance and left the area. No doubt he was saddened by the reaction but probably not surprised.

For us, this reaction of those who knew Jesus is seen as the greatest lost opportunity of all time. Yet don’t we find in ourselves that same incredulous rejection of Christ’s presence in those around us? Don’t we often fail to see the Lord present in those we encounter; especially members of our own families?

The lesson we receive today from St. Luke’s Gospel is that we must be constantly vigilant, looking for the Lord not just in prayer, not just in the sacraments, but in the people we meet. We must listen for the Word of God at all times and in all peoples because we do not know the hour or the day of his coming.

Pax

[1] S.S Commemoratio

[2] The picture is “Jesus Rejected”, by the Illustrator of Jerome Nadal's 'Evangelicae Historiae Imagines', 1593