Daily Gospel Reflection for January 30, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

In our last home, our next-door neighbors were a family I grew up going to church with. The neighbors knew my parents, and I remembered seeing them from time to time as a child. When my own family lived next door, we became close. My children liked to deliver their newspaper and bring them small bouquets. They especially liked to leave them little doodles with sidewalk chalk.

I imagine that for those in the synagogue with Jesus, hearing Him teach might be a little like one of my kids becoming my neighbor’s doctor someday. Here is a man they had watched grow up, now teaching with authority. Maybe some of the women had babysat Jesus while Mary did chores. The people seem honestly perplexed when they ask, “Isn’t this the Son of Joseph?” St. Joseph is such an amazing saint, and yet, in this passage, he almost comes across as common. Would the people have thought of Jesus as common? Unimportant? Uninteresting? How did He come to teach with such poise?

What I find most intriguing is the seeming swiftness with which the people’s impressions transform from admiration to fury (Luke 4:28). It seems as if there is an underlying pride that may prevent Jesus from truly being heard and accepted by the people. Preconceived notions can often prevent us from truly hearing someone. Certainly, this can impact our relationships with others, but it can also prevent us from hearing the Lord in our own life. Maybe we are on autopilot because we think we already know what He will tell us. Or maybe we are afraid of what might change if we listen, instead of assuming.

Ponder:

Am I open to really hearing Jesus, especially if He wants to tell me something that may be difficult for me to hear?

Pray:

Jesus, soften my heart. Open my heart to whatever You wish to tell me.

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Preconceived notions can often prevent us from truly hearing someone. Certainly, this can impact our relationships with others, but it can also prevent us from hearing the Lord in our own life. #dailygospel

Daily Gospel 4