Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 - Wednesday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[Col 1:1-8 and Luke 4:38-44]At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. [Luke]
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 WEDNESDAY IN THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
[Colossians 1:1-8 and Luke 4:38-44]
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. [Luke]
Yesterday (the scene of rejection in Nazareth) and today, we are given in very short order a "day in the life" of Jesus as he began his public ministry. Today, especially, he heals Simon's mother-in-law, casts out demons, preaches and prays. He also resists being tied down to one place in his ministry. The villagers' desire to keep him there contrasts with the rejection he experienced in Nazareth. (Would that have been because he claimed to be the fulfillment of the law and the prophets?) Is it because the villagers in today's scene don't care what his theological identity is and only care that he is a healer and wonder-worker? Jesus tries to set them straight by pointing out that his job is to proclaim the Kingdom of God. All of his ministry is to be an expression of that Kingdom!
There are instances in Jesus' ministry where pagan persons come to him for help. Their knowledge of his theological significance is minimal or non-existent: the centurion and the Canaanite woman, for example. They simply believe that he can help them. In the latter case, disciples actually try to keep her from getting help. [Matthew 15:21-28].
The point of all this is that Jesus' ministry is meant for everyone. We Catholics cannot keep him in our "village." And if someone comes looking for help, we can't give them a catechism test first. We accept them where they are and start introducing them step by step in appropriate ways to the bigger picture. But first of all, we help them with what brings them in the first place. That is one of the most effective ways to proclaim the Kingdom of God. The gospel scripture today is a "day in the life" of Jesus. Can it be a day in the life for us who call ourselves his disciples? AMEN