Gospel: Lk 4:31-37
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and began teaching the people at the sabbath meetings. They were astonished
at the way he taught them, for his word was spoken with authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed
by an evil spirit who shouted in a loud voice, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I recognize you:

Gospel: Lk 4:16-30*
(...) Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has
anointed me, to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to captives; and new sight to the blind; to free the
oppressed; and to announce the Lord’s year of mercy.” (...) Then he said to them, “Today, these prophetic words come true,
even as you listen.” All agreed with him, and were lost in wonder, while he spoke of the grace of God. Nevertheless they asked, “Who is
this but Joseph’s Son?” (...) 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. (...) 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:

People would usually admire you if you will admire them in return.
This mutual admiration if based on scratching each others back is not genuine.
It comes from mutual need and not based on reality. Jesus could say good
words to His town mates to win them to His side. He could neutralize them with
praise and flattery. But He does not. He prefers to tell them the truth. He prefers
to win them not with sweet words but with the true knowledge of who they
are. This does not seat well with the assembly. They are affronted by the frank words
of the Lord. And so they rise as one to do Him violence. If Jesus is not centered and
calm, He would have been lost in the swirl of their violent emotions. But He
walks calmly against their turbulent reaction and goes His way. When one remains
coolheaded despite heated emotions, one can always stay above the fray.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2021

Gospel: Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
One day, the Pharisees gathered around Jesus and with them were some teachers of the Law who had just come from Jerusalem.
They noticed that some of his disciples were eating their meal with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. Now the Pharisees,
and in fact, all the Jews, never eat without washing their hands for they follow the tradition received from their ancestors. Nor do they
 eat anything when they come from the market without first washing themselves. And there are many other traditions they observe, for example,

Gospel: Mt 25:14-30*
Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to
one servant, two talents to another servant, and one talent to a third, to each, according to his ability; and he went away. (...) He who received
five talents went at once to do business with the talents, and gained another five. The one who received two talents did the same, and gained

Gospel: Mt 25:1-13
This story throws light on what will happen in the kingdom of heaven. Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to
meet the bridegroom. Five of them were careless while the others were sensible. The careless bridesmaids took their lamps
as they were and did not bring extra oil. But those who were sensible, brought with their lamps flasks of oil. As the bridegroom

Gospel: Mt 24:42-51
Stay awake, then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Just think about this: if the owner of the house knew that the
thief would come by night around a certain hour, he would stay awake to prevent his house to be broken into. So be alert, for the Son of Man

Gospel: Mt 23:27-32
Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like
whitewashed tombs beautiful in appearance, but inside there are only dead bones and
uncleanness. In the same way you appear as religious to others, but you are full of

Gospel: Jn 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one that Moses wrote about in the Law, and the prophets
as well: he is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael replied, “Can anything goodcome from Nazareth?” 
Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said of him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true

Gospel: Mt 23:13-22
But woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.
You, yourselves, do not enter it, nor do you allow others to do so. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour
widows’ property; and as a show, you pray long prayers! Therefore, you shall receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, teachers

Gospel: Jn 6:60-69
After hearing this, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This language is very hard!
Who can accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about
this and so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then how will you react when