Reflection: Luke 4:24-30

Monday of the Third Week of Lent – Luke 4:24-30

Once again, Jesus is teaching. However, today he is teaching in the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth. I wonder what this experience was like for Jesus? I have a feeling it was a difficult one since Jesus bluntly tells his listeners that typically no prophet is accepted in his home town. He must not have felt welcomed or accepted. Perhaps Jesus was too familiar to them for him to be a prophet or even a teacher. They may have said to one another: “who does he think he is to be preaching to us? We have known him since the day he was born!” Perhaps though, there was something deeper going on in the hearts of the people in Nazareth. Was it simply easier to dismiss Jesus rather than being open to listening to Him? Or were they afraid of what they might find if they looked deeply into their hearts?

We are almost half way through Lent. In these past weeks, have we taken time to look deeply into our hearts? Or have we been too busy to quiet down or perhaps even afraid to quiet down? For many of us Lent may not be a comfortable season of our Church year. And that is understandable! The season of Lent invites us and challenges us to quiet down and go deep into our minds and our hearts!

Lent calls us to examine our lives. Are we truly happy? Are we at peace? Or are we running? What are we running from? How would we describe our relationship with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit? Is this relationship superficial or is it a deep and meaningful relationship? Lent is a time and a call to go deep within. Today may we deliberately take time to do just that. May we sit quietly with God or with Jesus and look into our hearts. What will we find there? Is Jesus there in our hearts? The reality is Jesus is there but the question may be: will we be open and fully present to Jesus? It is our choice!