Luke 4:21-30
There's one sentence in particular that really stood out to me in this week's Gospel:
"Amen I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place."
Jesus's rejection in Nazareth reflects the challenge that comes with our call to evangelize all people. When we start to evangelize, the easiest place to start is right at home with the people you know. However, this is often the hardest place to succeed in.
I find myself struggling to open up to people in general, but sometimes it's harder for me to be honest with the people I love most. I think it's because I care more about what they think of me, rather than what strangers think. I value the opinions of those close to me than those of people who barely know me. For example, when I was in orchestra, I felt more nervous playing solos in front of my private lesson teacher and my orchestra teacher than I did playing in front of judges at contests.
When Jesus came back to Nazareth in the beginning of his ministry, he was judged and rejected. When we begin to continue his ministry ourselves, we will face judgement and rejection as well.
This is very intimidating, but here's the thing. Having a faith that's on fire is not normal. We are called to be bold. We are called to keep trying.
Jesus was rejected countless times, but he simply keeps walking. Everyone was "filled with fury" and tried to kill him, "but he passed through the midst of them and went away."
It's a challenge to keep going even with the judgement, but in the end, it's so worth it. I can attest to that. The first thing I learned is that you don't have to do it alone. I have found a community and friendships that help me personally connect with Christ, and share that connection with enthusiasm and passion. And sharing this connection and God's love doesn't always mean preaching in the streets. For many of us, it can simply start with an invitation and with friendship. Simply be your authentic self and be an intentional friend.
But once we overcome the challenges at home, we can't stop there. When we were discussing this Gospel, a friend of mine said something along the lines of, "Great big fish can be caught, but you can't stay in the small pond. You have to go out into the rough waters."
Find your self. Find your people. Find your fire. Let's go fishing.
Comments