Reflection for Sunday February 3, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:21-30

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:

A priest was told by a parishioner that he is doing good in how he runs his parish. The priest was all smiles and was profusely nodding his head to acknowledge the compliment. Afterwards, another parishioner went to him and told him that he doesn’t like his homilies. Because its like a long and winding road that goes anywhere without direction and substance.  The priest angrily told the parishioner to find a new priest who gives homilies where he would be comfortable.  

In the gospel, when Jesus began to speak in the synagogue, the crowd were all ears to Him and all spoke highly of Him. Things began to sour when Jesus started to spoke words that were not anymore pleasurable to their ears. So, right there and then they decided to kill Jesus even if Jesus spoke in the synagogue out of His great love for them.

There are people who like to be praised they love it very much. Praises are like wondrous music to their ears. But notice also the behavior of this very people when they are told about their shortcomings. They easily get angry even if the person who tells them about it does it out of love.

Then, the one who tells the truth out of pure concern and love becomes now the villain. The one to be persecuted, to be hated and the most extreme that may happen is that the person who’s telling the truth out of love may even be killed.

In families, it often happens that when a bad decision of the most senior member of the family is contradicted. The one who contradicts is normally criticized and sometimes subjected to humiliation. This kind of incident is not exclusive to families this happens also in friendships and in organizational environments.

Sometimes the truth that is said with love and concern would hurts us. However, this same truth will help us, will liberate us and it will set us free. It’s also not easy at times to tell the truth because it may create enmity with our friends and relatives. But who cares? For as long as we tell the truth and we do it out of love and concern we need not fear anyone.

Do you always speak the truth no matter who gets hurt? – Marino J. Dasmarinas