How can the son of Joseph the carpenter be all that he claimed to be? At first, the initial reaction of the people of Nazareth in today’s Gospel was very favorable – “the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him…amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”. but when they realized the full implication of what he was saying that he is the Messiah in who is the fullness of the prophets and the law, as read in the book of the Prophet Isaiah this was hard for them to chew. They could not stomach it. Their favor and deep impression started to incredulity and from incredulity “fermented’ into hostility and fury, to the point of almost hurling Jesus over the brow of a nearby hill! For what reason
Jesus shows their lack of faith by speaking the truth to them. Nothing should stop us from speaking the truth even on familiar grounds. or die for its sake In the end God will rescue our lives. Let us always react positively to the truth even though it comes with its bitterness and unpopularity. Do not let go of speaking the truth. Hang on to the truth for it sets us free.