Monday, March 4, 2002
3rd Week of Lent
1st Reading: 2 K 5:1-15
Gospel: Lk 4:24-30
When
Jesus had come to Nazareth, he said to the people in the synagogue, "No
prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were
many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld
rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole
land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath,
in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the
time of Elisha, the prophet, and no one was healed except Naaman, the
Syrian."
On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose
up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth
is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through
their midst and went his way.
Commentary
Today's gospel is about appreciating what's right in front
of us.
"To go to Rome
Is endless trouble, needless pain.
The Master whom you seek in Rome
You find at home
Or seek in vain."
At home tonight, forget the TV, and take a look at the person next to
you.
"The person next to you is the greatest miracle and the greatest
mystery that you will ever meet...
The person next to you is trying to become something in particular...
The person next to you has problems and fears, wonders how he or she is
doing and often doesn't feel very good about it...
There is something her one life on earth means and cares for - but does
she dare speak of it to you?" (from "Look around you, friends"
Henry L. Myers)