Luke 4, 21-30:
Sunday, 30 January 2022 (4 OT C)
The prophet Jeremiah was a young man whom God chose to denounce in his name the corruption of his time, the loss of faith and the useless and counterproductive political alliances that ultimately led the people to destruction. God tells him: “Do not be afraid of them; they will fight against you, but they will not be able to defeat you, for I am with you”.
The Gospel tells us about Jesus’ first preaching in the synagogue in Nazareth. There Jesus reads the prophet Isaiah and says: “Today these words that you have just heard are fulfilled”. In other words, I am the one sent by God. At the time, St Luke tells us, they were all in awe, but when he reproaches them for their lack of faith, they try to throw him off a cliff.
We Christians should not lose heart in our mission to be witnesses of Gospel values in a society where many are rejected and even persecuted. Today we too are told: “do not be afraid of them…, tell them what I command you…, I am with you”.
Jeremiah and Jesus did not keep silent, despite opposition. We too need to be consistent in our faith commitment. We will need to turn to prayer and say “Be a rock where I can take refuge, a mighty stronghold to save me”, as the responsorial psalm says.
And in our struggle we cannot forget the words of St. Paul: “if I have not love, it profits me nothing”.
Juan Ramón Gómez Pascual, cmf
If I have not love, it profits me nothing
