4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C)

They rose up, drove him out of the town,and led him to the brow of the hill to hurl him down headlong.

Lk 4:21-30

See also >>> Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2010

FROM G. B. CAIRD

Jesus' announcement that the messianic age had dawned was received at first with rapt attention and excited comment, but when the people began to realize that he had incidentally laid claim to central position for himself in the inauguration of God's reign admiration turned first to doubt, then to hostility.

Their earthbound eyes saw in him only the son of Joseph, and it did not occur to them that he might also be Son of God. Jesus saw that behind their scepticism lay injured pride. 'Physician, heal yourself' was a popular proverb, akin to 'Charity begins at home'; but it had an apt reference to the present situation. The people of Nazareth felt that, if the son of Joseph had anything to offer, his own home town should have had the first benefit of it. But those who stand upon their rights and insist on preferential treatment are not likely to appreciate one who offers the chance to spend and be spent in the service of others and of the Gospel which leaves no room for privilege.

The stories of Elijah and Elisha should, indeed, have taught them that with God charity begins wherever there is found human need to call it forth and faith to receive it, irrespective of class or race. In fact, however, the suggestion that Gentiles could be admitted to God's kingdom produced an outburst of nationalist fervor which would have ended in the death of Jesus had the crowd not been overawed by the sheer majesty of his commanding presence.