Jesus’ rejection by those with whom he grew up

Gospel: Luke 4:21–30
He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

Prophetic voices being rejected by their own is a phenomenon only too common in our own day. And it was something Jesus foretold would happen to his followers, simply for being his followers and proclaiming his vision of life. In the meantime, let us make Jesus’ mission statement our own. It is what being a Christian means.

What is Jesus' mission statement? What is yours?

Gospel: Luke 1:4; 4:14–21
[Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.”

How does the politics of Jesus compare with your own? Good news to the poor, release to the captive, sight to the blind, letting the oppressed go free, declaring God’s favor. If that’s the politics of Jesus and we claim to be disciples, followers, lovers of Jesus, doesn’t it need to be our politics?

Responding to the needs we don't anticipate

Gospel: John 2:1–11
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”

Jesus doesn’t only meet a momentary need. Nor does he provide just enough wine to deal with an awkward family situation. He is not a minimalist. … God is doing what God promised in Isaiah, wedding us with an abundant and unending love. God is not a fickle partner in this relationship. God will be there to give us reason to celebrate, even in the most difficult moments.

What is my mission? Do I feel blessed by God?

Jesus, at his baptism, received his mission and his Father’s blessing

Gospel: Luke 3:15–16, 21–22
“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Faced with our individual and communal sinfulness, Jesus went down into the waters to be with us. He emerged to receive the Spirit’s affirmation as the chosen one, and to set out to bring to us the work of healing divisions.

What are the Epiphanies in our lives, and how do we respond to them?

Gospel: Matthew 2:1–12
[Herod] inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

To be a Christian is to live in a fundamental openness to the other, even the radically different, for God may be at work there, and that other may indeed see God in a way that we do not, as did the Magi.