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.

 

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