Jesus began to speak in the synagogue, “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.” And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips.

They said, “This is Joseph’s son surely?” But he replied, “No doubt you will quote me the saying, ‘Physician, heal yourself,’ and tell me, ‘We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own countryside.’” And he went on, “I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to the widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.”

When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. 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 down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away. [Luke 4:21-30]

This Sunday’s Gospel continues Luke’s story of Jesus’ visit to his hometown. The warmth, welcome and approval with which Jesus was initially greeted soon turns into an ugly scene.

Last week, in the synagogue in Nazareth Jesus announced his mission quoting the words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. He comes as God’s anointed one, filled with the Spirit, to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to captives, new sight to the blind; to set the downtrodden free and to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

Now, at first astonished by ‘the gracious words that came from his lips’, the people can hardly believe that this message of welcome and acceptance by God could be coming from the boy they watched grow up. He is beginning to sound like a prophet, but, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely?’

Jesus accuses them of wanting him to play the prophet for their benefit: to stay in Nazareth and do miracles and wonders just for them, like some kind of local magician.

The townspeople cannot recognise or respond to God’s word spoken in Jesus. Certain that they know exactly who Jesus is, they cannot hear the message and believe in him.

Using examples from the lives of the prophets Elijah and Elisha Jesus makes plain that God’s offer of salvation is not restricted just to them, nor indeed, even to Israelites. Neither the widow nor Naaman are Israelites. God’s love is unconditional and meant for all.

The people are so enraged that they want to kill him, but Jesus slips away to continue his journey according to God’s plan.

This whole episode reminds us that God’s offer of hospitality and welcome to us cannot be treated just as lovely words, nor God as some kind of personal wonderworker.

It is as though the Nazarenes thought that they had God, Jesus and his message neatly worked out and arranged for their sole benefit. It was a kind of superficial response - ‘What’s in it for us?’

Jesus brings these thoughts out into the open because the salvation he brings cannot rest just on the surface. It is meant to touch, explore and heal the depths of human beings. That is the journey of conversion.

Read our Celebrating At Home prayers and reflections for this Sunday.

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