FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C)
30th January 2022

Dear Parishioner

It was his home turf, people knew him and here he was proclaiming himself to be the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy, the "Anointed Bearer of Glad Tidings" (Isaiah 61:1-3). At first, the crowd seemed to praise and accept him. But then they turned on him, concluding that he could not be who he said he was. They simply could not see past his familiar outward appearance. In short, they did not recognize him: "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him. He went to his own, and his own did not accept him" (John 1:10-11). Do we see and recognize Jesus as who he says he is: the Son of God, the Messiah, true God, and true man? Jesus asked the disciples, "'…who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'" (Matthew 16:15-16). How do we live our lives as an expression of our belief in this truth?

Jesus spoke of how God sent Elijah and Elisha to perform miracles to other nations, not to Israel. Sidon was a city in northern Israel, but it was never subdued by the tribes of Israel. In fact, it was an oppressor of Israel (Judges 1:31; 10:12). Syria took Israel by siege, captured the people, and took them into exile (2 Kings 17:6). These people Jesus used as examples were bitter enemies of his listeners, which gives us some context as to why they became hateful at the mention of their oppressors having a share in God's goodness and mercy. In truth, the Gospel message is for all people in all places. It is the duty of the Church to witness to Christ ad gentes-to the nations. It is our missionary task and responsibility to both the Gospel and the world: "Missions is the term usually given to those particular undertakings by which the heralds of the Gospel, sent out by the Church and going forth into the whole world, carry out the task of preaching the Gospel and planting the Church among peoples or groups who do not yet believe in Christ" (Ad Gentes, 6). Do we truly believe that Jesus came for all people, even people who are different from ourselves, even our enemies?

The crowd here had preconceived notions that the Messiah would free Israel from its oppressors. Now, here was Jesus, the true Messiah, flipping that idea on its head. Jesus did so much more than secure political freedom for one set of people; he secured salvation, redemption, and freedom from the claims of sin for the whole world (Luke 3:4-6, Romans 5:18)! God chose Israel to be a holy example for the nations around them, to bless the whole world. But because of their disobedience, they could not bless others. Jesus fulfilled the role Israel was destined to complete but could not: "I will give you as a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). God desires the salvation of all people, not just those who have the blessing of religious culture or upbringing: God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). How does this Scripture challenge you to consider more deeply your preconceived notions about God?

Fr Jijo George

Notices:
Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died

Years Mind:
Sunday: Terri Dubois, Alick Kalil
Tuesday: Fr Joseph Burns
Wednesday: Fr Enda Keenan
Thursday: Fr Eric Bindloss Smith
Friday: Bonnie Geddes
Saturday: Jean Francois Kerforne
Sunday: Fr Francis Richardson