A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke:16-30
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'" And he said, "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, 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." When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
REFLECTION: They rose up, drove him out of the town,and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
What?...
Imagine our priest rebuking us for the lack of faith and for our behavior.!! The town people had gone to see Jesus based on the miracles He had performed elsewhere. The hometown folks had heard of the mighty deeds performed in Capernaum and they were expecting the same. However at the same time they questioned if anything good ever came out of Nazareth. Not only did Jesus rebuke them but he angered them as well when He complimented the Gentiles for having more faith than the local town folk. So angry were they that they rose up!!
So ?....
Do we not now see this in our communities? Many people do not like to hear condemnation of abortion and homosexuality from the pulpit. We want to be accepting and tolerant of behavior that is contrary to the commandments. We call, write and report our dissatisfaction to the diocese because that is not what we expected or wanted. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
PAPA was formed to pray for priests to be on fire for Jesus and His Church, the Body and Bride of Christ. We are to fear God and keep His commandments. This is our duty and God will pour out His grace, "for no eye has seen and no ear has heard things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor.2;9)
Our priests have been chosen and called by God to serve Him and His Church. They are educated, consecrated and anointed by the Bishop and they have sacrificed and devoted their whole life for the salvation of God's people.
Now what?....
What do we do?? Pray for all priests to have the conviction to speak up--the priests who will do what God commands and who interpret His teachings to help save souls. Pray that the priests lead us to God in our daily lives. Also pray the Prayer for Priests for all priests.
God Bless
