Universality of Jesus"

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s scripture readings are a beautiful demonstration of the benefit of reading the Old Testament together with the New Testament. Jesus’ comments in the gospel reading show how familiar he was with the Hebrew Scriptures. Moreover, today’s passages show us that the Old Testament should be read in light of Christ. What exactly is Jesus’ message today? Quite simply, it is that no prophet is accepted in his native town. Those who received this message seem to have been quite offended by it, so much so that they sought to drive him out of the town, hurling him down the hill. And indeed, it is strikingly controversial to announce to the people who have seen you grow up – through infancy, childhood and adolescence – that you are a prophet. Not only does Jesus claim to be a prophet, but he provides them with a reason for their disbelief.

If we take a step back from the intensity of this conflict, however, we see a larger picture. As Jesus points out, there is a longstanding tradition of foreigners benefiting from the Jewish prophets. The narrative in the first reading is a testament to this. It is the Hebrew girl that convinces Namaan to go to Israel for healing from his leprosy. Interestingly, the king protests Namaan’s coming, and it is the prophet Elisha who ultimately heals Namaan. In a sense we see a sort of evangelization here. The girl’s suggestion of Namaan going to an Israelite for healing coupled with Elisha’s willingness to heal him is a testament to the power of their God.

Hence Luke’s gospel seems to want to point in Jesus’ universality. He may struggle for respect amongst his own in Nazareth, but he has come for all precisely because there is only one God. The God of the people of Israel is the God of all, and that God is made manifest in the living God Jesus the Christ, who is both king and prophet. It is interesting to note that after all the turmoil Jesus creates in Nazareth, he calmly passes in the midst of the people and goes away.

We cannot let this happen. Unlike the people of Nazareth, we must allow Jesus to challenge us. We cannot allow him to become so familiar that he is a mere part of the landscape. In his universality to all peoples he must hold a centrality in our lives. During this season of Lent, let us focus on Jesus the prophet and Jesus the king and give him the opportunity to speak to us and direct our thoughts and actions.

- Maria Morrow