“No prophet is accepted in his hometown.”

30May
And 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. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They 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. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
-Luke 4:20-30

A well-known cliché is based on this scripture: "No prophet is accepted in his own country." Even people unfamiliar with the New Testament use this saying.  However, I think if we look closely at what this passage has to teach, it is more interesting than the cliché. Jesus basically goes back to his hometown to preach, and the folks don't like what he has to say. They think they are going to get special treatment, and rather, he tells them things they don't want to hear. They get angry.  


 I have gotten angry many times when a preacher, parent, friend, spiritual director or another wise person in my life helps me to see something about myself that I would rather not see. Perhaps I am feeling pretty righteous, and it is pointed out that Jesus would take a different approach, or it might be more subtle than that. Many times I have ridden that person right out of town. However, the more life-enhancing stance is to ask myself, "What is it about me that doesn't want to hear that passage?" Or, "Is this sermon/heart-to-heart talk revealing to me a truth about myself that I would rather not see?"

Musical Reflection - New Every Morning - The Porter's Gate

Dear God, help me today to notice the things that trigger me, and rather than getting angry, help me to ask myself what truth about me is asking to be revealed. Amen.

Gospel

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