RBWords

     In many a small town, the headline in the local paper would have heralded the eventual return: LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD!  In the Gospel According to Luke, Jesus returns to his hometown after beginning his ministry elsewhere in Galilee.  We are told "(N)ews of him spread throughout the whole region."  So, when Jesus appears in the synagogue in Nazareth on the sabbath, the anticipation would have been on a high level.  But they weren't expecting what happened first!  Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah - a majestic messianic passage - and then says: "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing!"  In other words, "I'm the one Isaiah was talking about!"    The initial reaction is favorable in a way: "And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth."  However, there are some in the congregation who say, "Oh yeah?  He's Joseph's son!  What's so special about him?  Let's see if he can do for us what we've been hearing he's done elsewhere."  The skepticism takes hold and Jesus confronts them with their lack of faith, which results in them running him out of town!!!

     The baby in the manger grows up and confronts us!  His hometown folks will not be the last to reject him.  Luke intends his audience to understand that they, too, will experience rejection from those who know them personally!!  The story of the presentation of Jesus in the temple contains the prophecy by Simeon that Jesus would become a "sign of contradiction."  This commission is passed on to us in the water and words of baptism.  The way in which we live our lives as Christians should say, "Today the scriptures are being fulfilled in your hearing."  Some will hear and ask for more.  Others will be skeptical.  The latter may indeed be those closest to us who claim to know us best!  Putting skin on the message is exactly what God did and now, in our own way, it's our turn.  AMEN