Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, January 19, 2025
by Pr. Sara Gorman, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Jesus didn’t always say what those around him wanted to hear.
Have you ever been chosen to be the one to bring bad news? Maybe you didn’t really have a choice, or because you weren’t present at some meeting, the choice was made for you. It feels a little bit gross. You walk into the room with all eyes on you, knowing that what you are about to say is not going to make people happy, and in fact may make them quite angry. But you do it anyway.
That’s what I imagine this particular experience was like for Jesus. He was the child, now young man, of the village, whom everyone had watched grow from infancy. Those gathered in the synagogue probably loved him dearly, and wanted what was best for him. But the words Jesus spoke after reading the scroll went a little too far. They didn’t like what Jesus was saying because there was no way the son of a carpenter would convict them of not being the kind of people they were supposed to be. After all, he was one of their beloved.
But as we know, Jesus doesn’t say things to make us comfortable or to congratulate us. Jesus says things that challenge us and challenge the social norm. Jesus says things that are counter-cultural that leave us feeling uncomfortable. And Jesus takes the risk that sometimes we aren’t ready to take. So much so, that Jesus’s life ends up being on the line. Instead of arguing with those gathered, Jesus goes with the crowd and finds a way out to the next community he is called to.
While we aren’t Jesus, we are called to live as Jesus lived and walk as Jesus walked. And sometimes that means making those around us uncomfortable. Might friendships be altered or destroyed even? Yes. But, we are called to be counter-cultural, to spread the good news of the gospel even if it means risking our comfort.
