4th Sunday - C (January 30, 2022)

 

My Attitude toward God’s Gift

Luke 4: 21-30

 

The people of Nazareth “all spoke highly of” Jesus and “were amazed at his gracious words.”

 

The word “gracious” of course has the same root with “grace,” which refers to God’s free gift.

 

But the people did not seem to recognize that Jesus’ words are a gift.  They were not content.  They demanded Jesus to do more for them.

 

In our relationship with God, it is easy not to be grateful, to have a sense of entitlement, and to demand more from God.  We all can, and many probably have done that.  I want more.  I want you, God, to do this, or that for me.

 

Not receiving what they demanded, the people turned on Jesus. 

 

In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus will never come back to Nazareth. 

 

Let’s this be our warning. 

 

Moreover, later on in this Chapter, Jesus moved on to other places to preach there also (4: 42-43).

 

God’s Good News is a grace.  We must always accept it with humble gratitude.  And it is not for us to keep.  God gives it to use to save us, and to share it with others, particularly the outsiders like Naaman, and the people who are poor and outcasts, like the widows in Zarephath.

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

3rd Sunday - C, Sunday of the Word of God (January 23, 2022)

 

Today, in Nazareth

Luke 1: 1-4, 4: 14-21

 

Nazareth was not much of a place.  Even the people of Nazareth did not think much of it.  While they were “amazed” at Jesus’ preaching, they did not think he got it because he is one of them (Luke 4:22).  Other people did not think much of Nazareth either.  Nathanael expressed it when he said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46)

 

Yet, in the way of God, it was in Nazareth,

 

It was “today,”

 

Jesus proclaims, “This Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

So it is for us. 

 

Wherever our Nazareth is, today, God’s Good News of salvation is fulfilled for us and in us. 

 

2nd Sunday - C (January 16, 2022)

 

“They have no wine.”

John 2: 1-11

 

What do we do when we realize our limitations, shortcomings, and sins?

 

There is a natural tendency to hide or to deny them. 

Moreover, we are often told that we must overcome them – with our own efforts and strengths.  Successes and achievements receive greater praise when they are accomplished against greater odds. 

 

The Gospel passage of the wedding at Cana teaches us that the realization of our limitations, shortcomings, and sins is itself a blessing.  When we do not know ourselves, we might be tempted to think that we do not need God.  On the contrary, self-knowledge is God’s gift.  It teaches us that we need God.  It gives us the opportunity to see God’s great power and love for us. 

 

That’s the response of the disciples.  Having witnessed the power of Jesus, and that he took it upon himself to help the couple, the disciples “began to believe in him.”

 

It is also consoling that Mary, God’s perfect creature, was the first to notice that “they have no wine.”  She teaches us that God knows our limitations, shortcoming and sins even before we know them. 

 

And God does not use such knowledge to punish us.    

 

Out of love for us, God sent God’s only Son to save us, who otherwise, cannot save ourselves.  

 

 Image source: www.agnusday.org

 

Baptism of the Lord - C (January 9, 2022)

 Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22

Background image: Maliz Ong, www.publicdomainfiles.com