The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 3, 2019

Here is a reflection on last Sunday’s readings that I posted in the forum of the Coming Home Network.

The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 3, 2019

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

Psalm: Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17 (cf. 15ab)

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

Alleluia: Luke 4:18

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

The second reading and the Gospel for this Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time are continuations from the previous Sunday’s readings. There are a number of themes in these readings but the main one is our call by God to be prophets in the midst of opposition to our message and doubt concerning our suitability for our call, going even to people deemed unworthy. We are motivated by God’s merciful love for us to share His love with all those around us.

You may be thinking, wait a minute, I’m not called to the prophetic mission. Yes, we all are according to the Catechism paragraph 783. Jesus Christ is the one whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and established as priest, prophet, and king. The whole People of God participates in these three offices of Christ and bears the responsibilities for mission and service that flow from them.

We may have different gifts as we learned last Sunday but we are all heralds, prophets and witnesses of the Gospel by what we say and what we do and what we leave undone. The only question is what kind of message are we presenting.

But there are some things we need to know that will help us in our mission and service in the readings.

The first thing we glean from the first reading is that none of us are unplanned by God. He had us in mind before we were even conceived and He has a plan for our lives for good and not for evil. Keep in mind that our life in this world may be hard. That was certainly the case for Jeremiah because he was to proclaim God’s message to those who didn’t want to hear it. Keep in mind though that we are immortals. Our body, which is important contrary to current opinion, may die but it will raised and transformed. This world is not our home, we’re just passing through as the old hymn goes.

God makes it clear In His call that He will be sustaining and protecting Jeremiah as he fulfills God’s mission for him. The same is true for us.

The Psalm is a prayer we can use to pray for the same care that He provided for Jeremiah as we seek to carry out God’s missions for us. Just remember He gets to decide when our mission is done and it’s time to come home. God has always been with us even when we felt and thought we were alone. And He will be with us always even to the end of the age. We can proclaim his justice, salvation and wondrous deeds.

Last Sunday’s second reading was from 1 Corinthians 12 on the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit confers upon us. This Sunday’s reading is about how those gifts are to be exercised with and in love. Otherwise they will be caricature of what they’re supposed to be. The list of love’s attributes is a good resource for our examination of conscience for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and for a reality check of our relationships and ministry.

The Gospel reading is a continuation of Jesus reading of His call from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah to the people in the synagogue of His hometown, Nazareth. The people at first are amazed at the reading and Jesus applying it to Himself. Then they begin to say to themselves .”wait a minute, we know this guy and he’s not that special.” Jesus anticipates they will be asking for a sign such as a miracle next and confronts them on their unbelief stating that they are like Israel in the days of the prophets Elijah and Elisha who were then sent to the Gentiles. Jesus also makes the observation that their response is typical. “No prophet is accepted in his hometown.” Matthew 13 and Mark 6 also record this event and note that Jesus was unable to do many miracles there due to their unbelief. John notes of Israel in general that this was their response. “He came to what was His own but His own people did not accept Him.”

The people of Nazareth are furious at Jesus and try to hurl Him down a steep hill but He escapes through them. Jesus experiences unbelief and opposition just like Jeremiah and many of us. But as you can see His Heavenly Father took care of Him until it was time to call Him home. Jesus was eventually killed but God raised Him from the dead and Jesus ascended into heaven.

So don’t be disheartened if your testimony is not accepted among your own family and friends, Jeremiah and Jesus have gone before you. Love those who oppose you and pray for them. Live out your faith in obedience to Jesus before them. I have seen miracles happen as the scales fall off people’s eyes and they begin to see.

May God bless you and keep you close to His heart of love.