Church of the
Annunciation

What does Jesus say that offends his home town listeners that they react by ejecting him from the synagogue and attempt to throw him off a cliff? It is also something that happens to Jeremiah (1^st reading), when he addresses his contemporaries in the name of God. Rejection! Our 2^nd reading, a beautiful passage on love, is taken from a letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. When we read Paul’s correspondence with the Church at Corinth, we learn of great discord and tears being shed. Many question his authority as a preacher and St. Paul honestly confronts the community regarding behavior unbecoming of a Christian. Whether it is Jeremiah, St. Paul or Jesus, human beings resist being told they are wrong. Can we imagine Jesus being our pastor, preacher, priest and prophet here at Annunciation? How long would Jesus last? Perhaps a month before we ask him to leave? Then escort him to the door! In addressing the great societal and political issues confronting our nation (abortion, immigration, violence, gun control, health care, balancing the budget etc.) do we ever ask ourselves what would Jesus do? What would Jesus say? In our faith community, in our families, do we hold to the teaching of Jesus: “Love your enemies” and “Forgive those who trespass against you”? Let us pray for the grace to be open to difficult prophetic words that challenge our mindset and behavior as Catholic Christians. Let us pray to be open to God’s transforming grace.