Fourth Sunday of the Year: C: January 30, 2022

BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN YOUR MOTHER'S WOMB, I KNEW YOU

First Reading: Jeremiah 1: 4-5 and 17-19

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 31 to 13: 1-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 21-30

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah is assured by the Lord God that He will protect him and care for him in all his difficulties and challenges. He is told that even before he was formed in his mother's womb, the Lord God knew him and appointed him a prophet. In the latter part of the passage, the Lord God reassures Jeremiah that those who are against him will not succeed in their sinister plans and evil designs because the Lord God is there to deliver him from such people. This assurance of the Lord God is not only for Prophet Jeremiah but for everyone who is unjustly persecuted. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul makes a fine distinction between different gifts from God. He says that the gifts- prophecy, speaking in tongues, knowledge, faith and hope - are all important in the life of a Christian. But the greatest gift of God is LOVE. Paul speaks eloquently in describing the excellence and permanence of love. According to him love is the answer to all problems of life. Where there is love, problems disappear but where there is no love problems multiply.

The rejection of Jesus at Nazareth                                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The events that led to the rejection of Jesus at His home town Nazareth is narrated. Jesus was certainly disturbed and grieved by the rejection of His own townsfolk. He knew that it was only the beginning of a series of rejections and denials. Their attempt to kill Him was only an indication of what was yet to come. Jesus knew very well the great risk that He was facing. He pointed out to them two instances in scriptures where prophets did not find favour with the people of Israel - that of prophet Elijah and that of prophet Elisha. It was very hurtful and humiliating to be rejected by one's own kith and kin. Jesus was certainly saddened by what happened to Him at Nazareth. But this painful rejection did not stop Him from continuing His prophetic mission. Jesus invites all of us  to continue His prophetic mission in spite of discouragements and rejections from people who are dear to us and familiar to us. 

"Familiarity breeds contempt." - Proverb

"Like the prophets, people who plunge headlong into denunciations of the present in order to inspire commitment to the future, risk their neck." - Carlos Christo.