Leaving Disturbed

January 6 - Thursday after Epiphany

1 John 4:19-5:4 / Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17 / Luke 4:14-22a

                                                                             

Leaving Disturbed

On the Sabbath when Jesus read from the Isaiah scroll, I wonder what his long-time neighbors expected to happen. Probably nothing extraordinary, probably nothing that would lead them to back one of their own to the edge of a cliff.

Did any of them expect that God’s word would be fulfilled in their hearing that very day? It seems that, regardless of their expectations, they were not able to recognize the word being fulfilled in their midst.

What about us? When we gather at liturgy for Word and Sacrament, do we expect that God’s word will be fulfilled in our hearing, in our gathering? Do we expect that the word proclaimed and preached will throw light on our daily living? Do we expect that our lives will be changed because of what we do on Sunday morning? Is that a living expectation?

Are we too familiar with the man from Nazareth to recognize him for the prophetic figure that he is? Do we expect to be surprised and challenged, or do we expect that “what goes on at liturgy, stays at liturgy?” That whatever happens at Mass will simply reinforce what we already believe, rather than become a corrective lens and a call to conversion?

• Last time you went to Church what did you expect? Next time you go to Church what do you expect?