FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME JANUARY 30, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

REFLECTION

"They were all filled with fury"

This Sunday's Gospel is a continuation of last Sunday's Gospel. The crowd cannot believe that someone from their town is claiming to be the Christ, the Son of God. They want Him to demonstrate to them His claims by performing miracles in Nazareth. as He did in Capernaum. Jesus knows their minds and hearts. They are interested in themselves.

And Jesus reminds them of the prophets Elijah and Elisha who were rejected by their own people. And they were all filled with fury.

In Jeremiah we are reminded of God's kind love. He knew us before we were formed in the womb. He reminds us that the enemy will never prevail because He is with us to deliver us.

And if we are to follow God's love we are asked to endure the world, its taunts, its anger and choose as our standard the Cross.

Many evils are about us. Be strong, firm, resilient because the Lord, our God, will lead us. Stay focused, have no fear, do not be disheartened. We are the Lord's foot soldiers. He will not forget us.

Jesus faced hostility and as the prophet Jeremiah was protected, the Lord delivers Jesus from those who wanted to throw Him off the hill.

Don’t fear—the Lord is with you. He is with us since for all eternity.

Thanking God for all He has done for us. God bless you.