Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:
“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.
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.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.”
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.The beggining of this passage is of Jesus reading the scroll of Isaiah, and then saying that “these words are fulfilled in your hearing.” I cannot stress enought how startling and shocking this statement would be for the jews of this time to hear. Jesus is saying plainly that He is the Messiah that was fortold in Isaiah and the other Old Testament prophets. These people listenting to Him where His extended family and friends that He grew up with. And instead of being awed by the graciousness of Jesus choosing to come and speak directly to them, in their sinagaogue, they ask for another sign… They want Jesus to do for them what He is said to have done for the afflicted in Caphernum. Almost like He is a circus clown.
That is when He makes the statement about the prophet in his home town, and He quotes scripture, telling the story of the widow of zeraphath, and Naaman the Leper. Jesus here is reminding the pharisees that it was only the Gentiles in scripture that ever accepted one of God’s prophets immediately. While at the same time, bringing to mind the fact that every prophet that has ever been sent to the jews was not accepted until years later, and only after they had first been martyred.
Further, Jesus chooses these two stories because they include both Elijah, and his disciple Elisha. Both prophets were sent to bring the good news of the lord, not only to the Jews, but also to the gentiles. Jesus then, is making a several points all at the same time…, He is telling His audience that He is a prophet, GREATER than Elijah (another stunning and shocking statement). That He too was sent to preach to the jews and the gentiles. And finally He is reminding them, that it was men like them, that killed all of the prophets that came before Him.
And as if they were reading from a script, the Pharisees then try to kill Jesus, but He steals their moment from them because He is not ready for His passion yet. Mark Twain once said that “History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” I think that Jesus is making a similar point here, although not as funny.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, help me to be a prophet that brings your word to the world, but let me start first with my family.