By Father Andrew Kelly
FOURTH SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – FEB. 3
On any given Sunday what happens in Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 4:21-30) can happen within the believing community.
The Gospel is proclaimed and preached. People really like what is being heard until what is being heard starts to challenge the assumptions and perceptions of the status quo.
After all, Jesus is a local boy. All “good” local boys are dedicated to making sure their own kind and kin are taken care of first. All Jesus’ words, miracles and healing are the community’s birthright and belong to no one else.
But once Jesus starts preaching that Jesus’ words, miracles and healing are God’s gracious gifts belonging to everyone, resentment, rage and rejection set in wholesale.
One week it is: “All spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at the gracious words that came from Jesus’ mouth.”
The following week it might be:
“They got up, drove Jesus out of the town, and led Jesus to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl Jesus off the cliff.”
A prophetic preacher in the tradition of Jesus just never knows what the reaction will be once Jesus’ prophetic Gospel words leave the preacher’s lips.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for Feb. 3-10
Sunday
Jer 1:4-5, 17-19
1 Cor 12:31—13:13 or 13:4-13
Lk 4:21-30
Monday
Heb 11:32-40
Mk 5:1-20
Tuesday
Heb 12:1-4
Mk 5:21-43
Wednesday
Heb 12:4-7, 11-15
Mk 6:1-6
Thursday
Heb 12:18-19, 21-24
Mk 6:7-13
Friday
Heb 13:1-8
Mk 6:14-29
Saturday
Heb 13:15-17, 20-21
Mk 6:30-34
Sunday
Is 6:1-2a, 3-8
1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11
Lk 5:1-11
