The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”

In this gospel, we are given the example of people who initially speak highly of Jesus, but because of their familiarity with him, they expect him to perform miracles for them just as he did in Capernaum. However, Jesus tells them that there will be no miracle for them. The people in the synagogue were filled with fury at this and tried to kill him, but Jesus walks away from them unharmed. Just like the people in the synagogue, we can sometimes begin to expect God to take care of our problems and console us as a sign of his love. But God’s Love is a gift freely given. We cannot demand how and when He manifests His Love for us. In addition, just because God loves us does not mean He will do everything we want, when we want it, and exactly the way we want it. Sometimes sacrifice and sufferings on our part are necessary for our spiritual growth. Also, God never forces us to follow His Will, and as such He allows us to doubt Him and deny His Love just as the people in the synagogue did so long ago. He lets us grow furious with Him, while He continues to love us in spite of our complaints. Perhaps we would do better if we complained less and loved more.

Do we expect God to perform miracles or give us consolations in our lives? Are we willing to see our sacrifices and sufferings, not as punishment or abandonment by God, but as opportunities to grow in our faith? What can we do to remind ourselves of God’s Love even when things aren’t going our way?

O Lord, cure us of our impatience and demanding natures.

Amen.