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.
