Focusing the Gospel
Key words and phrases: fulfiilled in your hearing, gracious words, filled with fury, hurl him down, passed through the midst of them
To the point: “gracious words” to the people of Nazareth about bringing glad tidings of freedom for captives and the oppressed, sight for the blind (see last Sunday's gospel). Hearing these words challenges the people to do what they hear (“fulfiilled in your hearing”), and for this they reject Jesus and want to destroy him. Yet God, whose word Jesus speaks, delivers him (“passed through the midst of them”). Eventually enemies do destroy Jesus on the cross. But do they?Connecting the Gospel …
… to the First Reading: In the prophetic tradition Jeremiah is the classic example of the rejected prophet. How tender are the words of God to Jeremiah, that no matter how people attempt to crush him, God will strengthen, protect, and deliver the prophet.
… to experience: Often in our desire to be accepted, we adjust what we say to what our audience will accept. Announcing the message of the Gospel is not undertaken for the sake of being accepted, but in order to be faithful to God's word.
