February 3, 2019

4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nazareth—A Homecoming Devoid of Honors

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth where he was so well known and where he had relatives and friends. The fame of his miracles and preaching preceded him but Saint Luke describes a welcome that turns hostile. Amazement turns to contempt. How could this happen?
 
Today Nazareth is the largest city in northern Israel with the population of about 76,000 (70% Muslim and 30% Christian). But in Our Lord’s time it had only about 400 inhabitants and was considered a “backwater town” of uncultured people. In my seminary days, it surprised me that students from all parts of the country knew the phrase that span the Delaware: “Trenton Makes, the World Takes.” But they also gave it their own twist, “What the World Refuses, Trenton Uses.” That the attitude that many felt toward Nazareth in Our Lord’s time. We can then understand Nathaniel’s reply when he learned that Jesus came from Nazareth: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
 
Why this hostility toward Jesus? Archbishop Sheen said that “[t]he people of Nazareth “believed in God, in a kind of way, but not the God Who touched their neighborhood, entered into close dealings with them and lifted hammers in the same trade shop.” They could not get past their familiarity with Jesus as being anything more than one of their hometown boys. He was too humble to be considered the Messiah. So they took offense and closed their minds to him. They had the facts but not the faith! They could not imagine that God would work through one they knew so well, a mere carpenter, the son of Joseph.
 
Knowing their minds, Jesus makes a shocking reply. He points out that God works as he wills. It is not up to Him to live up to our standards. He reaches back into the Old Testament and points out how God sent Elijah not to the widows of Israel but to a widow of Sidon. God found more faith outside Israel than within it. Jesus went farther still and recalled that Elisha cured not the lepers in Israel but Naaman the Syrian. Again, faith is found outside the Chosen People. This so infuriated the people that they attempted to murder Our Lord. The soil of Nazareth was unfertile for the visit of the Word made flesh.

This powerful Gospel poses two challenges. The first is to those who are entrusted with the ministry of preaching. Preaching the demands, the “demands” of the Gospel will certainly ruffle a few feathers. A preacher is called to move people beyond their “comfort zones” but must also be prepared to face the resentment, hostility and even rejection that often come. St. John Vianney knew this and reminded those who preach and teach: “The sun never hides its light for fear of inconveniencing the owls.”
 
The second challenge to the preacher’s audience. Listeners are challenged to keep an open mind, to be receptive, to come to Mass with an expectant heart, disposed to receive God’s message—no matter who the preacher is. When we close our ears or “zone out” because we are put off by the preacher’s shortcomings or personality or because we just don’t like the music or musicians or the lector, God’s word cannot take root.
 
St. Augustine said, “I am afraid the Christ will pass by.” He feared “zoning out” because of various prejudices, and thus miss those opportunities that would open him to Christ.
 
Let’s not fail as did the people of Nazareth, who were so close and yet so far from Christ. Let’s pray today that the Lord will give all preachers a prophetic courage and to those who hear them receptive hearts and minds. May we never fear that Christ will pass us by!