Word to the Wise
Thursday, January 7, 2016 - Thursday after Epiphany, or Jan. 10
[1 John 4:19-5:4 and Luke 4:14-22a]Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. [Luke]
Jesus did not begin his ministry in his hometown of Nazareth. He had moved away to a fishing village called Capernaum. By the time he came back to Nazareth, the hometown folks had been hearing all kinds of things about him. His initial reception was positive but the decisive moment came when he read from Isaiah about the "anointed one" and then said that he was the one foretold in that passage. This led to his being rejected by his townsmen. To them he was simply the grownup version of the carpenter's son and his claim was putting him "above himself," to put it mildly! When Jesus confronts them with their lack of faith in him, they run him out of town.
Part of understanding "Epiphany" is misunderstanding "epiphany." Not everyone recognizes revelation when it occurs. Certainly that was true of Jesus and Luke makes the point of rejection clear from the outset. Even Jesus' own people rejected him. The liturgical celebration of "the Epiphany of the Lord," presents the contrast between the faith of the Magi who travel from afar and the lack of faith of those who are closest and intended to be the first beneficiaries of Jesus' ministry! A great gift is rejected here because the "wrapping" is unacceptable. This could be a challenge to all of us, especially in the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. AMEN
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