A Less Than Warm Welcome

 Jesus In the Temple at Nazareth by Greg Olsen

Today's Gospel reading from St Luke is one where I love to close my eyes and put myself in the scene as it is being read. This scene of Jesus reading from the scrolls in the temple is one that gives such vivid imagery. It is also one of those times in Our Lord's public life when he received a less than warm welcome from those in his home town. Once again these people wanted the sign and miracles they had heard him performing in other areas. Jesus was unable to do so because of their lack of faith.
These people could not accept Jesus' words that the Scripture they had just heard Him read was fulfilled in their hearing. The thought going through their head was: "How could this simple carpenter's son be the promised Messiah?" If they could just have believed, if I could just believe more!
Now, I have never had the desire to throw Our Lord over a cliff, but I have certainly pushed Him away and out of my life through my sinfulness.
Back in January I wrote a reflection on this Scripture passage. As I said at the beginning of this post, I love the imagery of this passage so I thought a re~post of that reflection might be food for your meditation on this passage today. You can read Fulfilled In Your Hearing by clicking the link.
May our hearts be more Bethany, a place Jesus always received a warm welcome, than Nazareth.