The Gospel Takes Us, Not Us the Gospel

(a homily)

Imagine... Jesus had just been tempted in the desert and overcame the devil. He came home and declared that he had been anointed to bring good news to the poor, release for captives, sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and the year of the Lord's favor. His hometown neighbors were rather amazed at their quiet son's words, but soon their amazement turned to horror and offense when they were told these words were not their own. They were told they weren't going to get it. And they didn't disagree. They weren't going to wrestle with His words, either. They didn't want to share the words with Sidoneans or Syrians or anyone else. Instead, they simply wanted to kill that which they couldn't understand. They wanted these words for themselves, they wanted Jesus' proclamation of freedom to be their key to power, but he would not let them have it.

When we take the Gospel by force, or make it our own without letting it own and re-make us, it passes through us and goes away. We are left alone, burning with anger, blind and leprous, standing at the cliff from which we wished to hurl the Word we would not hear.

But, there is a prophet in Israel, a prophet in the Church. There is a river into which we can plunge. There are waters that will forever quench our thirst. The Holy Spirit is among us here. God's breath is here. When we are here, and when here is with us wherever we are, when Christ is in us, peace is with us. Love moves us. We are compelled to send word that there is good news, release, sight, freedom, and favor. We are compelled to be those things. However, to be such, we must first be at peace in ourselves. We must let go of our angers, our fears, our mistaken expectations, our comforts, the ghosts of exclusion. These are the things that should be thrown off summit of the hill. Having release from these we can take in the body of humility, the life force of forgiveness. We shall then go on our way transformed, renewed, remade, neighbors, brothers and sisters, the body of Christ for the world.

(2 Kings 5:1-15; Psalm 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Luke 4:24-30)