Jesus spoke in the Synagogue of Nazareth, using a text from Isaiah that spoke about the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed (Is 61, 1-2). The Israelites were astonished and amazed at what he said. But this was immediately followed by skepticism: where did he get his authority? “But this is only Joseph’s son!”
With a heavy heart, Jesus said, “No prophet is accepted in his hometown.” No doubt, Jesus wanted them to listen to him, and learn what he had to teach them – but they looked the other way.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that we can understand him only when we humbly open our hearts and make ourselves available to him. How many times have we heard his parables? We become so familiar with these parables that perhaps we fail to grasp the true meaning of the message that God is sending to us – new resolutions to change our ways, new challenges to repentance and growth in the Spirit, new opportunities to open our hearts to his love.
