Dear brothers and sisters,

This weekend our Gospel brings us back to Nazareth where Jesus went into the synagogue to share a bold message of His true identity. He reads from the scriptures Isaiah 61 which was a prophecy about Him and announced a new era of salvation beginning in Him. Origin commented on this passage by stating, “This text and this episode reveal that Jesus is God and man. Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan was an anointing by the Spirit, not because the Spirit was not already in Jesus, but to anoint him for us, so that he might reunite us with the Spirit through communion with his flesh.” He revealed after reading the scripture that this scripture was fulfilled in their hearing and therefore was making a claim to be the Son of God. He did this in Nazareth where He had grown up and it astonished all who knew Him and filled some of them with wrath. They dragged Him to Mount Precipice in order to throw him off the highest place in Nazareth.

I was lucky enough to actually stand on top of Mount Precipice and you can see all the way to where Jesus made this bold statement in the synagogue. I was taken aback because it was probably about a two hour walk to Mount Precipice from the synagogue. This shows how angry the people were to drag Him all that way. Also it proves the old adage that familiarity breeds contempt. We are called to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is even present in our world today. Let us open our heart to that reality and even though we see so much pain and suffering in the world, to live with hope because we have the love of Christ who wants to help us come to know His true identity as the Son of God and the one we can count on. Saint Augustine once said, “Hope has two beautiful daughters, anger and courage, anger at the way things are, and courage to see that things do not remain as they are.” Let us therefore pray to our Lord to help us be the Church He needs us to be and witness to God’s love and mercy in the world.

Peace,

Fr. Mike