JOSEPH’S SON

JOSEPH’S SON

In a craft shop for intellectually disabled people Joyce paused in her work and asked, “What are we here for?” Nick, a volunteer newly out of university, replied, “To make crafts and sell them and so support ourselves.” But Joyce wasn’t satisfied. “No, but what are we really here for?” Nick, a little irritated, replied, “You’re a funny one! OK, let’s break for coffee!”

Nick couldn’t deal with the deeper question Joyce asked and it was easier to slip off it and return to firmer ground. When Jesus announced in the synagogue in Nazareth that the reign of God had come his hearers couldn’t handle it. They settled for the familiar, “We know him. This is Joseph’s son, surely? What can he tell us?”

To begin with they “were astonished by his gracious words and he won the approval of all.” It was OK when he said nice things “out there” that excited his hearers. But when he said they were now called to change their way of thinking and accept the good news they retreated to familiar ground. Jesus reflected their attitude back to them so they could see themselves in a mirror, “I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.”

That was then. What about now? Are we any better at allowing the gospel into our hearts and ways of proceeding? The Church is all very nice and three cheers for Pope Francis. But don’t actually ask me to change the way I live, the way I relate to my family, those I work with, with foreigners and migrants, with the poor and the disabled.

Even the Church herself, which preaches the word Sunday after Sunday, doesn’t practice what she preaches. We say one thing and do another. Reality is too hard to take. It is all very well for the saints – Francis of Assisi and Teresa of Kolkata – but do not ask me to move from the way I am used to.

Jesus is asking for a revolution, a turning round. We can accept science: for the sake of the planet we are asked to be sensitive to what causes global warming and we – some of us - act accordingly. We are responding bit by bit because we know. We know there is no future for our grandchildren if we don’t act. But there is another kind of dangerous “warming” in politics and trade, in relationships and in attitudes, that is also damaging.   

The Jews of Nazareth said, “This is Joseph’s son.” But the pagan centurion on Calvary said, “This is God’s Son” (Mark15:39). Now, there is some movement!

31 January 2016                     Sunday 4 C

Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19                        I Corinthians 12:31-13:13                  Luke 4:21-30