Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Have you ever felt like an outsider in a new place? That can be tough. You know what can be worse though? Feeling like an outsider in an old place. Maybe you’ve taken up a new hobby, decided to form a new habit, or turn over a new leaf in some way, and you get a big eye roll from your friends and family. “Yeah right, sure you’re going to start finishing all your homework Friday after school instead of Sunday at midnight – I’ll believe it when I see it!”

Maybe you’ve had some kind of experience that sparks a change in you, and you’re excited to share that with the people in your life – only to find that they just don’t get it; and therefore, just don’t seem to get you anymore. Well, you’re in good company. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus shows us what it’s like to feel like we don’t belong anymore. He shows us what it’s like not being liked or listened to by the people that THOUGHT they already knew us.

Your family may have a good laugh when you lay out your goals for new studying habits, but they likely wouldn’t be offended by something like that. BUT, when it comes to faith and our walk with Christ, it’s a different story. Our friends and family might find our deepened faith to be off-putting, because it makes them take a good look in the mirror at their own lives of faith. Instead of being inspired by you, they might feel challenged or even like you’re now judging them.
[[In-content Ad]]That’s what Jesus experiences in the Gospel this week (and often throughout the Gospels). He compares his hearers to people throughout the Old Testament who couldn’t see what God was doing, even though the non-Jewish people in the stories often did. “Jesus, we’re God’s chosen people, and you’re telling us that these outsiders know better than we do about the ways of God? How dare you say that to us. Who do you think you are? We remember you back when you were a nobody. So don’t come around here telling us how to do faith.” Those he is talking with, whether the people in the Synagogue in Nazareth this week, or the Pharisees and the Sadducees at other points; often accuse Jesus of causing problems in the community and stirring up trouble, when he is merely pointing out problems that already exist.

We also hear Jesus reference the prophet Elisha, who went all-in for God, and the people to whom he was a prophet sure didn’t like what he had to say either. He stands up against those people who were directly against the God of Israel, and he waged war against all their false gods. And even then, it’s one thing to turn away from worshipping false gods, but it’s another thing when Jesus is pointing out that our “false gods” may very well be ourselves.

What do these examples mean to us? How do we actually live, all-in, for God like Elisha or Jesus, despite the reactions of those around us? We are called to live against the current. Like Jesus, when many judged him and claimed they knew who he was, or like Elisha where he was being persecuted for speaking the truth of God, we are called to be bold in a place where fear reins. The reality is that the closer we get to God, the further away we get from the understanding of others. So, the question stands; who do you want to be closer to? I for one want to go all-in for God, even if it means some raised eyebrows from friends, family, and people that knew me way back when. And when we do this, God will often send us out to be prophets well beyond our native place!