"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."
When Jesus speaks to us through his word it has the potential to transform our lives. It takes years which are filled with all kinds of abuses, sins, and shortcomings, and transforms them into years acceptable to offer to God. Prisoners are set free and the blind are given sight. The poor are filled with joy as they receive the good news. This is the potential at least.
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
We always run the risk of emptying the words of Jesus with mere human wisdom. The more we insist on putting everything in a context that is humanly understandable the more we risk missing the power in the words of Jesus. We sometimes assume we know who Jesus is or that we already completely understand his words. Even when we already have a spiritual understanding of certain aspects of the words of Christ we must still remain open. There is infinitely more in his message than we can ever fully receive. Each time we hearing him it is the opportunity for a fresh outpouring of grace.
They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"
When we are not open to his words in this way, when we are not really listening, we close ourselves to the power Jesus wants to unleash.
Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
We are the native place of Jesus in our world. We must remain open to his words. Our flesh is of no avail. Only the Spirit can open our hearts in the way we need. The word proclaimed becomes a demonstration of spirit and the power of God. But this only works if we're listening. It only transforms us if our eyes are open.
The psalmist can point us in the right direction.
How I love your law, O LORD!
It is my meditation all the day.
We should meditate on the word proclaimed. We should chew on it bit by bit, over and over, savoring every part, experiencing every flavor. Meditation in particular calls for a repetitious approach. This scares us. We think we'll get bored. But we won't! The grace on offer is limitless!
From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
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