Don't Ignore Him

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. 

Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. (Luke 4:24-30)

Anger and violence can be the result when we hear what is contrary to our beliefs and positions be they religious or political.  January 6 provides an excellent example.  Antisemitism is another.  Indeed, when one speaks up to oppose differences of opinions in families, the one or few dissenters are not accepted in their native place.  Emotions can run so high it’s as if family (and friends) rises up, drives them away, and hurls them down headlong.  Tragic.  

Consider that Jesus said: “Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon,” and “during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them [lepers in Israel] was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” The widow and Naaman were not Jews.

Jesus highlighted that the ones outside the community or religion were fed or cleansed, not the people in the synagogue.  Jesus focused on inclusiveness while people in the synagogue at Nazareth did otherwise.  Many of us tend to be exclusive with herd mentality.

We must lift all people up the hills and even mountains they must climb.  Rolling stones downward into their paths is destructive and inconsistent with Jesus’ teaching.   If we ignore him, he will pass through our midst and go away.  To ignore him is to be ignorant of him.

Deacon David Pierce