By Kulandai Albert csc –
Readings: 1 Thes 4: 13-18; Lk 4: 16-30
Today, the liturgy of the word invites us to be receptive. In the first reading, St. Paul speaks about the coming of the Lord. Being receptive is a good virtue in a person and it needs courage, openness, and acceptance. St. Paul was courageous and open enough to know the truth about Jesus and was receptive to the invitation of the risen Christ in his conversion of Saul into Paul.
Therefore, today as a sign of acceptance, St. Paul proclaims the coming of the Lord. In the gospel reading, we hear about Jesus’ beginning of the Galilean ministry and experiencing rejection from his own people. In the beginning, he was praised and admired by his own people. Later, after knowing the truth and the real meaning of the scripture about Jesus, they were not able to accept the truth. But Jesus passes through these praises, admirations, and rejection without reacting to it; and he expressed the truth and mission about himself in his own way.
In the same way, we also experience praise and admiration for our good work and relationships. But when rejected by others for the same things, we feel bad and react, and are emotionally down. Today, we realise that even Jesus was rejected by his own people.