The Bitter side of Truth.

Homily for September 4, 2017

In today’s Gospel passage, we see that what began as a happy reception of Jesus eventually turned into an attempt to kill him. What was responsible for this sudden change of attitude? Truth.

Luke tells us that it was the usual custom of Jesus to go to the Synagogue in Nazareth. That was where he was brought up and the people knew him very well. The only problem was that they did not realize Jesus was more than the Carpenter’s son.

On this day, Jesus decided to step into the podium to proclaim the message. He read from the book of the prophet Isaiah a passage that was about him. He made them understand how privileged they were that that passage was being fulfilled in their hearing.

So long as Jesus said beautiful things to them, they were happy with him. Luke reported that “all spoke well of him and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from his mouth.” So why would the same people who spoke well of them turn around so quickly to bundle him intending to throw him off the cliff?

Dear friends, truth is bitter. People don’t like to hear the truth but prefer to hear messages that make them happy. No wonder, the prosperity gospel has become so popular today; it has become an opium of the masses; preventing them from facing reality and amending their ways.

Yes, in one same speech, Jesus announced that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him to proclaim the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to set at liberty those oppressed and at the same time he made them understand that they should not see themselves as privileged simply because they were Isralites. After all, Elijah ministered to a widow of Zeraphath and Naaman was a Syrian.

Preaching good news to the poor entails making people understand the universal implication of salvation as something not meant only for a privileged few. Sometimes the truth might be difficult to accept but the preacher does himself and the people a disservice when he tells them only what they like to hear rather than the truth.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may the truth of your word guide my life. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1^st Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Luke 4:16-30).