Monday, September 23, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Luke 4:14–30

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (NRSV)

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Reflection

Nazareth was a tough crowd! The reaction of people in the synagogue provides a vivid illustration of the adage “Familiarity breeds contempt.” While Jesus has been attracting crowds of believers all over Galilee, the people of his hometown reject him.

The lyrics below, from the closing verse of Keith Green’s 1977 song “I Only Wanna See You There,” imagine what the congregation were saying amongst themselves:

Isn't that Jesus? Isn't it Joseph and Mary’s son?
Well, didn't he grow up right here? He played with our children.
What, he must be kidding? Thinks he’s a prophet
But prophets don't grow up from little boys, do they? Do they?

I feel a twinge of envy for those people following Jesus all over Galilee. When they witness his miracles, they see the prophet, not a little boy they remember who is all grown up now. Perhaps this makes it easier for them to truly, fully, deeply believe the good news he proclaims.

Today’s scripture makes me wonder if I am guilty of missing God’s message to me or of being blind to God’s presence right in front of me when the messenger is a familiar face. Am I guilty of discounting the one whom God has sent to help me just because I know them?

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Prayer
God of miracles and hope, help me to recognize you in each messenger you send and help me to hear your good news, especially when it is delivered by my friends in Christ. I believe, forgive my unbelief. Amen.

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Written by Sarah Younger, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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