Deacon Brigid Waszczak

“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath… went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read… the prophet Isaiah…”

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll… and sat down. The eyes of everyone… were fastened on him. He began by saying… “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
—Luke 4:16-21

Sister and Brothers,

Jesus returned to Nazareth where he’d lived and worked before this event. Neighbors knew him as a carpenter, not a Rabbi, even though his reputation and tales of miracles had already reached his hometown.

While there, Jesus attended the local synagogue with his community. When time came to read, Jesus proclaimed the day’s appointed Isaiah scripture that detailed what the Messiah would accomplish when he arrived.

Customarily, a sermon, sometimes from a learned visitor, followed the reading. Jesus was that day’s learned visitor. He sat and taught those gathered.

What a shock for his family, friends, and neighbors—especially since he was so eloquent! Jesus left as a carpenter and returned an itinerant, well-spoken Rabbi who claimed to be the Messiah: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  What?

The verses following this passage reveal how indignant the listeners became since they still viewed Jesus as a carpenter. Who does he think he is?

You may have experienced a similar situation.

When you left your hometown, perhaps you acquired further schooling and training. You began a career that added to your knowledge and maybe even earned an impressive title.

Upon returning home however, those who “knew you when” were probably not aware of your growth and saw you as the same “kid” they remembered. The new you may have taken them by surprise.

Modifying one’s opinion of your maturation can occur even within your own family.

A medical event led my mom to live her later life in Tucson. Previously, she lived 3,000 miles away. On our way home from an appointment, I let her know I had to get home to spruce up the house before Bible study rather than take her to lunch.

She asked who was leading the study. When I said it was me, she grew silent. “Well, who would want to listen to you?” she finally asked. Mom hadn’t realized I’d studied scripture during and after college. She couldn’t imagine I had any in-depth knowledge of the Bible.

Luckily, Mom didn’t try to drive me away as the townspeople did Jesus. But I took my cue from Jesus who just moved on as did I.  

Blessings and prayers,

—Deacon Brigid