Sunday, January 30, 2022

 THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Jeremiah 1:4-5.17-19; I Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30)

Sixty-one years ago President John Kennedy delivered his famous inaugural address. It ended with challenges first for the citizens of the United States, then for the citizens of the entire world. He said: “…my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.  My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.  His words resonate with the those of Jesus in the gospel today.

The passage comes from the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. Last Sunday we heard how he began his discourse in the Nazareth synagogue. He read the part of the prophet Isaiah that says that the prophet is anointed to assist the poor and comfort the distressed. Now Jesus affirms that this is his mission. “Today,” he says, “(this) Scripture is fulfilled…” At first, he receives the approval of his fellow citizens.

Jesus then reminds them that he is not there primarily to benefit his relatives and friends. Rather he has come to solicit their support. We can imagine what he would have them do. If possible, they are to follow him on the mission. If they can't accompany him, they may be able to contribute something toward the expenses. They can, at least, pray to God for its success. It is similar to the request made by the Church today.  It asks people to commit themselves. Youth should consider a religious or priestly vocation. Everyone who can, should offer if not time at least some money to charities. Then we are to lend a hand to a neighbor in need.

Incredibly, it is not uncommon for some to turn down these requests. They go to Mass on Sunday so they don't lose the possibility of eternal life. But from Monday to Saturday they look out for their own interests. They would no more visit a nursing home than stick their arm into a snake hole. The same rejection can be seen in the gospel. People react to the implications of Jesus' speech with anger. They hoped that Jesus would be their ticket to a more comfortable life. Perhaps, in addition to healing the sick, he could increase the economy of the town. If he stayed in Nazareth, men and women from all over Israel would come to see him. The townspeople could sell them food and lodging.

The people get so angry with Jesus that they want to stone him. (One can be stoned either by throwing rocks at the person or by throwing the person on rocks.) It is as if by suggesting that they sacrifice themselves, Jesus has committed a capital crime. The people who today reject Jesus’ mandates do not want to kill him but to ignore him.

In the second reading today we hear Saint Paul's beautiful reflection on love. He does not have in mind acquisitive love as many people think of it. No, he is thinking of charitable love. It is the sacrifice of the self for the good of the other because the other is an image of God. It is putting ourselves second because God is first. This love, as the reading says, is patient and kind. It is collaborating with a parish in Honduras so that campesino children may receive a secondary education. It is making sandwiches for the homeless. It's helping in a million possible ways.

We have endured the Covid virus for almost two years. All of us have known someone who has died from the disease. However, we do not feel defeated or worn down. Rather we now feel that we can live with the threat. It is time to resume Jesus' program. It is time to assist the poor and comfort the distressed.