“Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”

lke 4:24

Luke 4:24-30

Reflection

Jesus is preaching in Nazareth, telling the people that no prophet is accepted in their own country. He speaks about Elijah and Elisha, who were sent to heal Gentiles during tough times, not the Israelites. The people grow at angry at Jesus for speaking like this, and drive him out of the synagogue, bringing him to a cliffside, but he passes away among them.

Jesus’ hometown is angry because he is declaring the Gospel message is for all people, not just the Jews. As we know, the Gospel is for all people, but yet at times, we can also act like the angry and jealous Nazoreans.

When we hear of non-believers or people of other faiths being miraculously healed or converted, we may ask why that doesn’t happen to us, those who already believe. How can Jesus do such wonderful things for people who have little or no faith? In those instances, we fail to be grateful for the faith we do have. God appears to us every day in little ways – we just have to pay attention and welcome his presence in our lives.

Let us pray for a greater faith and an increase in gratitude for the way Jesus works in our daily lives. Let us also be thankful for the way the Lord appears to others and brings them closer to himself – that we may all come to know and love him.

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Saint of the Day

St. Caimin: died AD 635

St. Caimin was an Irish hermit. He was a reputable scholar, credited with writing a commentary on the Psalms and a psalter, which survives in part. He also founded a church and monastery.   St. Caimin, pray for us!