Luke 4:14-30
I know it might sound too worldly of me but I do love cars. This has been a lifelong joy of mine and I really do try to keep it in perspective. I find an analogy in the life of car lovers. Each one has his favorite. The car that I find stirs my soul certainly will not be the one that stirs a friend into a frenzy. Where the analogy falls apart is that in general car lovers have a brotherhood in which they respect each other. Differences in life, not so much.
In life, when you think you have thee answer to everything, usually a religion or a philosophy, there seems to be a constant effort to convert the other side. I say the other side because the 'non-beleiver' is often looked down upon and their view is usually dismissed or diminished.
Poor Jesus reading the scroll in the synagogue has virtually no chance of succeeding in helping the congregants realize that he is in fact the One. He is the messiah. They after all are the congregants , they have history and covenants and the law. Jesus was (LOL), the carpenters son! Perhaps it harkens back to my writing about the self righteous or majority but this group was not accepting Jesus. The only thing he aroused in their hearts was anger. It cemented the rule that no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town.
In life we often take our own preferences or beliefs as the best dismissing everyone else's veiw. This shows an incredible lack of maturity,understanding and respect. This is why Washington is in such dissarray and it follows through into American society as well - if not the world. Our view is the only accepted and true view. I am going to go out on a limb here though and say that I think there is more respect from the left side of he aisle for the right than there is from the right for the left. Got that?
Recently I read a face book posting commenting on a gay man removed from ministry in a Roman Catholic parish. The man sadly thought he could bring the Bishop to his senses. He presented a petition and there were local newspaper articles in support of him. Even many of his fellow parishioners spoke on his behalf. Here's the rub. This man, this victim, had respect for the church. He really fails to realize that the Church has absolutely no respect for him. Our victim, one of countless gay Catholics around the world respects a faith that has abandoned them. The Church arrogantly believes that it has the one true view and there is no other. Gay Christians can read the scrolls (the bible) and proclaim that they are loved and equal and worthy of all of God's Sacraments but it will be for naught if read in a Roman Catholic church. I am sad for this man who does not recognize that there is no respect for him.
Recently I read a face book posting commenting on a gay man removed from ministry in a Roman Catholic parish. The man sadly thought he could bring the Bishop to his senses. He presented a petition and there were local newspaper articles in support of him. Even many of his fellow parishioners spoke on his behalf. Here's the rub. This man, this victim, had respect for the church. He really fails to realize that the Church has absolutely no respect for him. Our victim, one of countless gay Catholics around the world respects a faith that has abandoned them. The Church arrogantly believes that it has the one true view and there is no other. Gay Christians can read the scrolls (the bible) and proclaim that they are loved and equal and worthy of all of God's Sacraments but it will be for naught if read in a Roman Catholic church. I am sad for this man who does not recognize that there is no respect for him.
I am reminded of the section of scripture that says if the Apostles find that they are not welcome in a place, they are to leave and shake the dust from their feet. Gay Catholics need to realize they should leave a pile of dirt as they depart the pews.
God's revealed world has many facets, all are true but none are the complete picture. To retreat to ignorance and arrogance shows how wrong hearted and un Christian you are.
God's revealed world has many facets, all are true but none are the complete picture. To retreat to ignorance and arrogance shows how wrong hearted and un Christian you are.
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
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