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 favor.’ 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 hometown 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 hometown. 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. Luke 4:14-30
There are lots of reasons for people to be angry and we seem confronted by more and more angry people these days. When the life one has grown accustomed to changes, folks often react with anger and frustration. The pandemic and its aftermath have changed our world and lots of people want what they had back. Those of us who are aging can find ourselves angry with our inability to do what we once did. When the world turns and changes, when it looks different, and we get fearful and angry. Jesus was in his hometown and all of the sudden he wasn't Mary's eldest, Joseph's assistant, but declaring he was the awaited Messiah. In their fear, they were terrified and acted out in anger. So real and so human. Being at home, he found his way out away from them, and did not confront their anger. We are invited to imagine that we too can find our way out from others' anger and do the work we are called to do.
Gracious Creator, you built a round world
which turns every season and reflects light
in every turn and in all transitions we face
you hold us together in your large heart.
We humans find the turns and changes hard
we fail and get angry when comfort is gone
the losses and the pains of living overwhelm us
and we stomp and scream like small children.
Help us Lord to see the wings of your Holy Spirit
overshadowing the chaos we find ourselves in
help us to embrace the wondrous nature of rebirth
and trust that you are moving us all to new life again. Amen.
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