Fr Cuthbert Brennan OSB
In this morning’s gospel we see Jesus return to his native place, surrounded by his friends and family. They have heard of the amazing things that he has done. A member of their community, a member of their family has blossomed into something extraordinary but they cannot celebrate this fact. They simply cannot reconcile what he has done with who they think He must be. Will they deny his miracles? No. Will they receive Him as Messiah? No! This Jesus is the Christ? Are you kidding me? Are you serious? We may not be able to explain His miracles but we do know who He is. Is not this the son of Mary? Are not his four brothers and sisters here with us? We know that family and the notions they have. Is not this the carpenter? If anyone should know who you are we should. You are nothing special, you just one of us. You are a nobody with a nobody job and an illegitimate son to top it all off.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence, they would not believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, the One who was to redeem Israel. They were scandalised by all this talk and commotion about Jesus. His works they could not deny, and his words, they could not handle. Initially proud, they quickly became embarrassed. They knew him but could not explain him so they rejected him. Apart from the eyes of faith no one will see Jesus for who he really is.
So it was in first century Palestine and so it is in 21st century Limerick. Jesus the Christ is here, He is here among us. In the Gospel we have proclaimed, in his body and blood which we will consume, in us, his body the Church. He is here. A crucified Jew from a nowhere town, murdered unjustly two thousand years ago is the Saviour and the only Saviour of the world. He is the only One who sets us free. And he is still rejected today.
Christ who aligned himself with the prophetic tradition, is the great prophet who proclaimed the kingdom of God both by the testimony of his life and by the power of his word. All of us have a share in Christ’s prophetic office to proclaim the gospel in life and word. At baptism we were anointed with the oil of chrism and the following prayer was said; The God of power and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin and brought you to new life through water and the Holy Spirit.
He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation, so that, united with his people, you may remain for ever a member of Christ who is Priest, Prophet, and King. On that day we were entrusted with a mission to bear witness to our faith, to proclaim with Christ His gospel, a message of repentance, love and forgiveness, which our world needs now, more than ever. Maybe we have become scandalised by the simplicity of His gospel? Having been raised in the church all our lives, have we become so familiar with Him that his words no longer challenge us? His miracles no longer astonish us? His death on the cross for us no longer strikes the chord of “Amazing Grace?”
Familiarity can blind us to the greatness and glory of our Saviour if we are not careful. Jesus’ hometown got it wrong, his relatives, at least for a while got it wrong. The religious leaders of the day got it wrong. Rome got it wrong. And still today, people get it wrong. Do you see Jesus for who he truly is and call him Lord and Saviour? Do you let Jesus set the agenda for your life and death? Let us be the ones to stand up and announce the good news in such a way that others begin to believe. Let your life and words be a gospel to others. Let your life speak. Let your life speak of your acceptance of Christ as the Saviour of the world.