in Capernaum.” Jesus added, “No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the
days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet,
Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in
Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet; and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian.” On hearing these words, the whole assembly
became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw
him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.

Reflection:

We are revisiting this passage and its neighboring events
for the third time (see January 6 & 23). Perhaps the Liturgy
is trying hard to drive home this central message
of the Gospel that is so evident that we often miss it: the message of
Mercy and Good News. Of freedom and healing. Of Grace, in short.
Jesus “spoke of the Grace of God.” This grace manifests itself as love, of
which Paul sings today. It is this love that reaches down to the womb and
knows us by name even before we are born. Unfortunately, the world
fears this love. It rises up, takes love out of the town, to the edge of the
hill, wanting to push it down the cliff. Fortunately for us, this love refuses
to leave and sneaks back into us, as Grace again.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2022