Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time January 31, 2010

Jeremiah 1: 4-5, 17-19 1 Cor 13: 4-13 Luke 4: 21-30

Whether this week’s Presidential State of the Union address was watched, listened to, read about or ignores, there is one fact that cannot be denied or overlooked, no matter what one’s politics might be: it was delivered by an individual of African-American heritage. Just as some fifty years ago, whether by parents or grandparents or even by ourselves, the Presidential State of the Union address was watched, listened to read about or ignored, there was one fact that could not be denied or overlooked: it was delivered by an individual who happened to be Catholic.

In both instances, at least one thing was evident with respect top the history of our country: a divide was crossed, a barrier had come down, a limitation had been removed. For at least one more group in our country, the old saying “You can grow up to be President” was true to some extent. There are still divides; there are still barriers; there are still limitations. But an example was present, in both instances, the one more of these limitations was gone, at least to some degree.

But we do not have to look to national politics to realize this. It can and is true for so many of us, either for ourselves or for our families. What we can be, what we can accomplish, does not have to be limited by where we grow up, what school we attended or attend, what our family background or history might be. With enough will power, determination and effort, virtually any divide can be crossed, any barrier can come down, any limitation can be removed.

Perhaps this is why Saint Luke us telling us the story which was just read in today’s Gospel. After Jesus had read a very powerful passage from the Old Testament writing of Isaiah the Prophet about a person who would bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to those who were captive, give sight to the blind and give freedom to the oppressed, he told his listeners that then and there, they were encountering the person who would do this. He would do this. The one who would accomplish this was in their midst. The reaction he received was initially amazement. But then they started to put limitations on him: we know who you are, where you come from. How dare he say such a thing?

Despite the challenge that Jesus made to their narrow thinking, and the response that was made of placing the ultimate limitation on him by eliminating him, killing him by throwing him off a cliff, he simply passes through their midst. They could not limit who he was or what he could do. This was Luke’s introduction to what it meant to have God in the world in the person of Jesus Christ. Despite whatever effort might be made to eliminate him, the persistent presence of his love was with us.

This is what we can understand as God’s message to us today in the scriptures that we have heard. Listen to what is being said, be open in mind and heart and spirit to what is being announced to us. Put no limitations on who is speaking, what is being proclaimed to us, and how we might respond.

Like the experience in national politics or on our own personal level, the Scriptures are telling us that the possibilities that are present, the potential that can be exercised is not limited. There are no barriers to experiencing the effect of being loved by God.

Who is telling us this? The imagery of Jeremiah the prophet that we have heard is being applied to Jesus. We are being told this by one who is dedicated, set aside by our loving God to do this. No matter what limitations others might seek to place on this messenger, those limitations will no prevail. We can listen and hear with confidence and trust.

What is being told to us? In the powerful poetry of Saint Paul the love of God which wee can experience and reflect is revealed. It is a love that is patient, kind, not self-seeking nor quick-tempered. It is loved founded in God. It is love that is powerful when it is active in our lives. This is the good news being given to us by Christ. This is what we can reflect in our lives because of the assurance of his presence with us un Word, in Sacrament, in one another.

This is how our lives are to be as images and reflections of our God. Place no limits on what is being told to us by our God through Jesus Christ. Place no limits on the potential, the possibilities, of how we can reveal in our lives, the goodness, the truth and the beauty of our loving God.