4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Prayer

Loving Father,

Open our hearts to your Word. May your Son, the Word of Life, fill us with joy as we reflect on his life, death, and resurrection. May we rejoice in his presence among us as we break open Scripture and share our faith together. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading:  Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

The proclamation of the Word of God is not always well received. The Prophet Jeremiah is well aware of this. Later, in another passage, he complains to God for calling him out of his youth to be a prophet: “You duped me Lord and I let myself be duped.” (Jer 20:7) Jeremiah wrongly assumed that the job was a blessing without challenges.

God stands by the Prophet and encourages him with these words: “Before I formed you in the womb … I dedicated you … I appointed you.” God does not let his pre-ordained and appointed prophet down. He reminds Jeremiah that the crowds will fight against him, but God will be with him to deliver him.

Nobody wants to hear the hard parts of the Good News. For many, to be challenged by the Word of God is to be avoided at all costs. This makes it all the more difficult to proclaim God’s Word in its entirety. Careful not to offend, many of us would rather stay silent when called to proclaim His Word.

Question:

When are you uncomfortable sharing the Word of God with others?

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

There is a temptation to hold our position on a matter of truth or principle while falling out of love with another in the process. Husbands and wives know this best. Perhaps, this is why this reading from Corinthians is often the choice for weddings.

Standing your ground in what you believe can be good and holy. However, if love for another is not the end purpose of your creed or belief, then the words of St. Paul are clear: “If I speak in human and angelic tongues … If I have the gift of prophecy … If I have faith to move mountains, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong and I am nothing.”

The Prologue to the Catechism of the Catholic Church reads: “The whole concern of doctrine … must be directed to the love that never ends.” Our teaching must “Have no other objective than to arrive at love.” (Catechism, Art., 25). Rather than using Truth as a hammer, Love must prevail.

Question:

How do you respond to Jesus as both Truth and Love?

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

Our Gospel passage begins with the crowds’ glowing words about Jesus: “All spoke highly about him.” The Gospel ends with the same crowd wanting to throw him over a cliff. What happened?

After recognizing the mighty words and actions of Jesus, they begin to consider his credentials: “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” This question receives a quick response from the Lord: “No prophet is accepted in his own native place.” Jesus proceeds to tell his “faithful” crowd that the Gospel will be proclaimed to those who really are receptive to the Good News; namely, the Gentiles. This infuriates them.

The writer of the Gospel of Luke (probably the same companion of St. Paul) was a Gentile himself and so his telling of the life and ministry of Jesus favored the his culture. This is not to say that the Jewish faith was dismissed by the Gospel writer, but that Jesus (in Luke) would fill all of

the hopes and prophecies of Israel as He proclaimed the kingdom to all nations.

The crowd was not ready to hear these words. They lived in a time where the Jews were trying to hold things together – including their religion – while under Roman rule. Holding to their truths and precepts, they had little time, energy, or will to consider an all-inclusive faith. There exclusive behavior, however, would prohibit them from being what they were called to be – “A light for all nations.”

Question:

How is your practice of the faith inclusive or exclusive?

This Week’s Task 

Consider asking a person you would not normally ask to join you for dinner, a movie, or even a Christ in Our Neighborhood gathering.

Group Prayer

All say the following:

Lord,

At our baptism, we were called to share in the prophetic nature of Christ your Son.

In Christ:

We are prophets of Truth; We are prophets of Love; We are prophets of Mercy.

Make us bold in our prophetic mission!

The prayer continues with Psalm 71.

Psalm  

Response: I will sing of your salvation.

In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.

In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth;

from my mother’s womb you are my strength.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation.

O God, you have taught me from my youth,

and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

Conclude with an Our Father 

Used with permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.