hometown hero

Good morning all,
Today's reading may feel a little jarring since we've gotten used to following the story of Acts, but today we're back to Luke's Gospel. Our passage picks up after Jesus is baptized and after his wilderness temptation by Satan. You may remember that after the baptism (when the Holy Spirit appeared like a dove) that same Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness for fasting and temptation. Now that that temptation and solitude is over, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus out of the wilderness and into ministry.

We first see Jesus in action in his hometown of Nazareth. Things start out well as the people are impressed by his strong reading and bold words. Quickly though, Jesus turns to challenge the people by reminding them of times in Israel's history when God reached out to foreigners instead of people from Israel. The result is almost an early end to Jesus' preaching ministry. It's not exactly clear why the people are so upset. I suspect it's because instead of acting like a hometown hero: praising his neighbors and making them feel special, Jesus reminds them that God's love is bigger than that and God doesn't play favorites (at least not the way we expect). That's a tough message for the people of Nazareth and it's a tough message for us too. But the truth still remains the same: God loves everyone regardless of who we think he should love. May we follow our bold and inclusive Lord in faithful ministry.

God bless,
Sam


Luke 4:14-30
14Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

23He 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.’” 24And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25But 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; 26yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

28When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29They 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. 30But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.