TOPIC: WE CAN ACCEPT OR REJECT JESUS
4C SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 4:21-30,
January 30, 2022
1. STORY
A
small group of tourists had great faith in their tour guide, John, who was
leading them on a tour through the desert. Due to the intense heat one day, they
slept during the day and walked during the night. As they set out on that night
to walk through a mountain section, John told them to pick up the small stones
they would find along the way. Some accepted John’s suggestion while others
rejected it saying that the stones would only add to the difficulty of their
journey. In the morning, at the end of the walk through the mountain, John told
them the stones were not ordinary stones but valuable diamonds. Those who
accepted John’s advice were happy. Those who rejected the advice were very
unhappy.
2. GOSPEL, LUKE 4:21-30
A.
ALL SPOKE HIGHLY OF HIM.
When
Jesus spoke to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth, they “all spoke highly
of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” Jesus
was a wise and powerful speaker.
B.
THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH FURY.
Jesus
was not only accepted, but also rejected. The people in the synagogue had a
change of mind. They were so angry at what he said that they were prepared to
kill hm. “But he passed through the midst of them and went away.”
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. ACCEPTING JESUS.
Here are two examples on how we
accept Jesus.
i)
We accept Jesus when we are baptized. We stay close to Jesus by praying daily
to him as two very close friends would stay in contact. We listen carefully to
his words when we read the bible or attend Mass and listen to his instruction.
We stay close to Jesus by receiving the Eucharist, the spiritual food we need
to be spiritually strong.
ii)
We accept Jesus by making every effort to live as he did. We are faithful and
obedient to God our Father. We are kind, polite, and respectful when speaking
with others. We are willing to help people by giving our time, talents, and
energy to those in need.
B.
REJECTING JESUS.
Here
are two reasons people reject Jesus.
i)
When tragedy strikes, as the sudden death of a loved one, Jesus is blamed as
the cause of the death. If he was a loving God, he would not permit this to
happen. When we make a request for help and help does not come, a response is
to say that Jesus does not care or is incapable of helping in this
matter.
ii)
A second reason Jesus is rejected is because people are too busy and do not
have time for him. There is no time to pray, there is no time to go to Mass,
and there is no time to follow his example of helping others. Jesus is
forgotten.
4. CONCLUSION
The
tourists appreciated John, their tour guide, as being very experienced and
responsible. Those who accepted his advice were happy but those who rejected
his advice were unhappy. The people of Nazareth, his home town, at one time
accepted Jesus. They then changed their mind and rejected him. We ask Jesus to
help us to always accept him, his advice, and his help.
