Word to the Wise
Monday, September 2, 2013 - Monday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Thess 4:13-18 and Luke 4:16-30]The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 MONDAY IN THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [LABOR DAY, USA]
After reading these words, deliberately chosen, to his hometown synagogue, concerning the mysterious figure in Isaiah known as the "suffering servant," [a modern title] Jesus then says in essence, "I'm that guy and that is my job description." ["Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."] The audience reaction is mixed at first, ranging from, "Doesn't he speak well!" to "Wait a minute, isn't he the guy we knew as a kid here? Who does he think he is?" This provokes the response of Jesus about the fate of prophets not being honored in their own hometowns and by their own people! Needless to say, the whole affair ends with the villagers running him out of town!
I often use this story at parish missions to challenge the congregation to think about what their baptism/confirmation truly means. It is not a past event but a present power so that our lives become a fulfillment of the Scriptures - the gospel - to others! The closer we are to them, the more difficult it can become. "Who does he/she think he/she is?" The Gospel of Luke, in reporting this incident, is trying to warn disciples that rejection by even one's closest acquaintances may be part of discipleship. This does not mean a kind of "triumphalism" that trumpets a superiority of faith as if one wears a badge, but rather a humble faithfulness that is translated into actions on behalf of those mentioned in Isaiah's words, and in the words of Matthew 25: "When I was hungry, you gave me to eat....."
Today, in the USA, we celebrate Labor Day. In recognizing the dignity that labor makes possible, we should remember those for whom decent labor for a decent life is not possible for whatever reasons. Our own labor as baptized Christians should direct us to "labor" for them and seek to change those conditions which deny decent employment, shelter, food, clothing and health care to our fellow human beings. We should remember from today's gospel that we may not be honored but rejected for this "labor." Our faithfulness to this task will unite us to our "boss" - the Lord - and to all others who work in his vineyard! AMEN