“They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away” (Lk 4:29-30).

“They” were those from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. They could not accept that he was anything but a carpenter’s son. How does he not only try to teach them but also imply that God was showing favor to the Gentiles in the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian. What followed next is our humanity at its worst when it rises to a mob mentality of mind. They moved as one to lead him out of town and hurl him headlong down the side of a hill.

In praying with this verse, I imagined myself with Jesus in his synagogue in Nazareth, listening to him teaching the people. I watched how the people were first listening to every letter of his message mesmerized and moved by them. But was then astonished as their disposition changed and their eyes of wonder then clouded over like a once clear, blue sky, was filled by an approaching storm cloud.

The voices of rebuke reached a fever pitch after Jesus shared how God blessed the widow and Naaman, then their bodies rose as one, and they moved in on Jesus. My and Jesus’ eyes met and he mouthed for me to stay close to him. I attempted to do so as the crowd grasped at Jesus and pushed him toward the exit.

I squirmed through he swarming bodies to get outside quickly, and then slipped outside of the crowd so I could keep an eye on Jesus while also not wanting to be trampled. The energy of the crowd was electrified as if a lightning strike was about to unleash. Outside, the bodies did not spread further apart but instead closed into a tighter unit. It was harder for me to see Jesus, I quickened my pace and ran to the right of the converging crowd which now hummed and looked more like a swarm of angry bees as they drew closer to the brow of the hill.

A roar then erupted from the front as arms were raised. The raising of voices and arms moved then like a wave from the front nearest to the brow to the back. To my right I spied a man walking away at a steady pace. I dashed to the hill side in time to see three or four bodies tumbling down the hill. I looked again to the back of the man who had now put a good distance between us. Jesus.

I ran not down the hill but toward him. As I caught up, I glanced back over my shoulder and saw the crowd was looking down the hill and toward us. More shouts echoed but no one followed us. I turned back and realized I had fallen behind. I jogged to catch up.

As I did so, I glanced at Jesus walking with his head down. Then I saw his face. He radiated a smile of joy. Jesus kept his pace but turned to meet my look of wonder. His smile only increased when I imagined he saw my look of amazement.

“Jesus, the people of your own hometown just rose up to toss you out on your head. How can you be smiling?”

Jesus breathed deeply, and although I slowed to listen, he kept his steady pace. I caught up to him again and he said, “I am not happy that their hearts were so closed, their hearts so hardened, but I feel joy in knowing that I did my Father’s will. Even though my own rejected me, even though they had no faith in me, I was faithful to what my Father sent me to do.”

I stumbled then, tripped, and feel to my knees. I rolled to sit up. Jesus, stopped and turned to look at me. “The same will be so, when I am raised up on the Cross.”

Our eyes met and we held each other’s gaze. He then smiled again and reached out his hand. I looked at it for a moment and held my breath. I looked up at him again. There was no judgment on his face, but there was a clear, unspoken invitation. I then took a deep breath and placed my hand in his. Without hesitation his strong, calloused hand grasped mine and he lifted me up like a feather.

Jesus faced his suffering with joy, because even when his own did not understand him, rejected him, and even betrayed him, he knew without a hesitation or doubt that he was doing his Father’s will and his Father loved him. Jesus was like the eye of a storm in the hurricane of his experiences because he was anchored by the bond of love that was unbreakable between him and his Father. That love was iron clad because he always said, “Yes”, without hesitation to his Father’s will. Even to the Cross.

Jesus invites us today to take his hand and allow him to lift us up beyond any anxiety, fear, darkness, sin, distraction, or diversion. He is inviting us to let go of anything that is not of his Father’s will and to take one step in faith with him. Are we worthy to do so? No. Are we capable? No. Are we willing? If yes, Jesus will provide the rest! Let us place our hand in his, allow him to lift us up, and take one step with Jesus today, just one, and allow God through the love of the Holy Spirit to happen!!!

Photo: One step closer to morning Mass, Holy Cross Catholic Church, Vero Beach, FL.

Link to the Mass readings for Monday, September 2, 2024