February 29, 2016
Monday, 3rd Week of Lent
1st Reading: 2 K 5:1–15ab
Gospel: Lk 4:24–30
Jesus added, “No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian.”
On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.
D@iGITAL EXPERIENCE: Daily Gospel in the Actual Life Experience
Jesus came to the world like an intruder, and he had to be born in a manger. He lived in Nazareth as a humble carpenter, but his very own hometown worked for his ouster. Today’s Gospel dramatized the rejection, showing how his neighbors sought out his destruction. Jesus turned his back, he did not insist. They lost a God in their midst.
Jesus saw this coming. He was too ordinary to be the Messiah they were expecting. Even if he were not ordinary, he’d still be rejected anyway. “No prophet is honored in his own country”. They could have taken it as an omen when Jesus shook the dust off his feet against them. God’s love and respect for human freedom abound. God will never throw his weight around. That’s why He kept his distance from Israel’s path. When there was famine he sent Elijah instead to the widows of Zerephath. Of the lepers in Israel he cured no one. He sent the prophet Elisha instead to Naaman the Syrian.
His own people did not like Jesus because he spoke the whole truth with conviction. People can tolerate half-truths since these are open for manipulation. But if Jesus, the Truth, telegraphed his punches, he would have effectively chopped himself into pieces. So he did not mind if people rejected him as a “nobody”. It was important that he maintained his integrity. He preached the truth because that was the right thing to do. It was the only way to create the world anew.
If you work for the truth do not expect to be treated any better in the fight. Eyes used to darkness will instinctively resist the light. The darker the world you cast the truth into, the more rejection you’ll face, mind you! Know from where to derive your strength to survive. From God alone abundance of grace you can derive. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected].
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