4th Sunday C
Jer 1:4-5, 17-19
1 Cor 12:31-13:13
Lk 4:21-30
The call of the prophet often brings difficult and even frightening consequences. Jeremiah’s account (1:4-5, 17-19), highlights some of the psychological challenges associated with this divine call. The prophet was initially reluctant to accept his mission (1:6), primarily because he was aware of the opposition he would face. However, the psychology of prophecy offers no way to escape the obligation to serve.
Jesus’ mission was similar to that of Jeremiah. In today’s account ((Lk 4:21ff) Jesus speaks the ‘gracious words that came from his mouth’. The phrase is the Lucan expression that may be identified with the salvific word of God (Acts 14:3) that is proclaimed accompanied by signs and wonders (Acts 20:32) to those who believe, realizing in him as prophesied by Isaiah (6:1-2). And this is disconcerting to his townmates. Thus the favorable comment turns into bewilderment and later hostility and even murderous intent (4:28–29): Despite Jesus’ repeated efforts to bring hope to his people, these attempts were met with deafness and hostility. Even during the time of St. Paul
(cf 1 Cor 12-13) the message remains unheeded.
What Jesus proclaimed, the truth about the salvific plan of God, and the necessary response to it may at times difficult to comprehend and more so, to follow. We easily confused the message and the messenger. So it makes it difficult for us to hear the real message. And it becomes doubly difficult if the message is true and not our own liking. But it is what it is- gracious words, the saving words. As Jesus tells his disciples, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life”(Jn. 6:63). He himself is the Word “in the beginning” (Jn. 1:1). Do we really believe Him as our Lord and Savior?
