Reflection for Sunday January 30, 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:

Do we have an attitude of exclusivity? For example we 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 our peace. We want to be in the company of those who are rich because it enhances our 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 we are. Even if we  are poor, sinner and uneducated.  Jesus desires everyone to come to Him and He reaches out to everyone regardless of faith Jesus welcomes everyone for He is for everyone.

In the gospel, Jesus town mates got angry with Him because they wanted Him to be their exclusive property. His town mates wanted Jesus to exclusively heal and do miracles for them only: The Jewish people.  But Jesus would have none of their exclusive mentality.

Our exclusive mentality if we allow it to capture 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 as good for nothing which the Lord is not in favor.

Do you sometimes have an exclusive mentality?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas