GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 31ST AUGUST 2016
WEDNESDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: 1Corinthians 3:1-9
PSALM: Psalm 33:12-15, 20-21
GOSPEL: Luke 4:38-44
THEME: WHEN JESUS COMES TO YOUR TOWN
It is quite interesting comparing the attitude of the people of Capernaum towards Jesus in today’s Gospel text (Luke 4:38-44) with that of those of Nazareth in Luke: 4:16-30.
In Nazareth, Jesus preached a powerful sermon in their Synagogue. The people were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips but they rejected him. “They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him off the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away” (Luke 4:29-30).
In Capernaum, Jesus also preached a powerful sermon in their Synagogue. They were equally astonished by his teaching. However, unlike the people of Nazareth, they chose to accept him. In accepting Jesus, they opened themselves up to be blessed. Apart from healing the mother-in-law of Peter, we are told that “at sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Demons also came out of many…” (Luke 4:40-41). In fact their acceptance of Jesus was so strong that “they wanted to prevent him from leaving them” (Luke 4:42). Rejected by one group of people but accepted by another group.
There are two important lessons that we can draw from this comparison. In the first place we need to understand that no matter how good we are, some people will reject us. However, there are others who will accept us. Those who accept us are the ones who are able to discover the treasure in us. They discover the value in us and our presence in their lives becomes a blessing. Therefore, if someone has rejected you, do not worry; remember that Jesus too was rejected. Take heart, someone else will accept you and discover the treasure in you.
The second lesson is that if we are not discerning and careful enough in our judgements about people, we would miss a sublime and unique chance to be blessed. The people of Nazareth missed their moment of blessing due to poor judgement on their part while those from Capernaum received abundance of blessings on account of right judgement. In rejecting Jesus, those from Nazareth rejected healing, deliverance and restoration while those in Capernaum received all of these.
Divine visitations are like the rising of the sun. We need to “make hay while the sun shines.” When Jesus passes through your town, will you accept him?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as you pass my way today, may I not miss the opportunity to be blessed. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).