Just can’t hide that hometown pride
Monday, March 4, 2013
Third Week of Lent
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030413.cfm
 Luke 4:24-28
Jesus said to his townspeople in the synagogue at Nazareth, “No prophet is accepted in his home town … 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.” And the people were filled with fury.
Capernaum is about 20 miles from Nazareth. In the three years of his ministry Jesus did many miracles in Capernaum and very few in Nazareth. Once Jesus invited them into his ecumenical world view, the natives of Nazareth just weren’t interested.
The rejection of Jesus by the Pharisees and other leaders was preceded by this local groundswell of disapproval. The locals couldn’t believe their ears when they heard Jesus comparing them unfavorably with pagans, with their enemies. Jesus is knocking down the walls, but they aren’t ready.
There is certainly strength in numbers, and stupidity too. It is difficult to get above family loyalty, tribal loyalty, national loyalty even when evidence is overwhelming that the loyalty has become misplaced.
I am grateful that Jesus is patient with us, more patient than he seems to be in this story from the beginning of his ministry. I don’t pretend to be any smarter than the folks in Nazareth. I know how locked into one point of view I can become, and sometimes it’s even worse when I’m challenged. EITHER I’m right, OR the other person’s right.
Instead, how about looking for the 10% on which we agree, and resting in that for a bit to see if there might be more? BOTH you AND me can learn to love each other then. Proximity is half the battle.
EITHER-OR? Or BOTH-AND? Lesson one in learning how to love.
God, in your love for me you don’t always approve what I do, but you always accept me as me. You make us, you bless us, and you turn us loose with each other. That’s very scary, and very inspiring. You really do believe in us, Lord. Wow!
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1156
