Gospel: Luke 4:21-30
Jesus began speaking
in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your
hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words
that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He
said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure
yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were
done in Capernaum.’ And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in
his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in
the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a
severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah
was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there
were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one
of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the
synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him
out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had
been built, to hurl him down headlong. But Jesus passed through the midst of
them and went away.
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Reflection:
Do you have an
attitude of exclusivity? For example you want to reside in an exclusive
community so that those who are not members and those who are not rich will not
be able to disturb your peace. You want to be in the company of those who are
rich because it enhances your status of being member of an exclusive group of
people.
Jesus is not in
favor of this exclusive mentality, Jesus mindset is inclusive regardless of who
you are. Even if you are poor and uneducated, Jesus desires everyone to come to
Him and He reaches out to everyone regardless of faith. Regardless of physical appearance,
status in life, learned or not. Jesus welcomes everyone for He is for everyone.
In the gospel, Jesus
town mates were angry with Him because they wanted Him to be their exclusive
property. His town mates wanted Jesus to exclusively heal and do miracles in their
community. But Jesus wanted to reach-out even to those who were not members of
their faith.
Our exclusive mentality
if we allow it to envelope us would detach us from reality. It will dictate
upon us to have a superiority mindset. It will force us to look down on others
especially the poor and unlearned and regard them with contempt and
condescension. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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