Isn’t this the son of Joseph?

Jer 1,4-5.17-19; Ps 70; 1 Cor 12,31-13,13; Lk 4,21-30
3 FEBRUARY

The whole Gospel testifies, in every word that Jesus is moved, guided, supported and guarded by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, that acts in Him with all power of science and revelation. In the synagogue He revealed the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Thus saying, Jesus manifests himself as the true prophet of the living God with a well-defined mission to fulfil. He keeps away every idea that He can be identified as the Messiah of God, that came among them. In the times of Jesus Messianism was strongly politicized, because of the subjugation to a foreign people of the sons of Israel, whose vocation was the political freedom of every people of the earth. Instead, the prophet is linked to the Word of God. He is always sent to remember the Law of the Covenant, to invite to conversion, to announce the Lord’s forgiveness, to call everyone to full obedience to the will of their Lord, just as it is contained in the Law, in the Prophets and in the Psalms. Prophet and Word are one.

Those who listen to him know Jesus from his childhood. They know of his humble origins. He is from a poor, simple and small family. If he wants to be believed, he must perform the miracles performed elsewhere. The prophet is not true because he performs prodigies. He is true because he says the true Word of the Lord. The truth of the Prophet is the Word that is fulfilled. But the truth of the prophet is also the perfect match between the Word that He says and the Word uttered by God and written for his people on Mount Sinai. These two truths must be one truth. The current Word of the prophet might never contradict the Word which is at the foundation of the Covenant and which are the Ten Commandments. If there is difference, discrepancy, opposition, divergence, negation and repeal, then one must strongly doubt the truth of the prophet. He lacks the testimony of the Two Tablets of the Law. But when there is confirmation of the Two Tablets of the Law of God, which are the same life of the Prophet, then there is no reason to doubt.

He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Jesus defends his truth and also justifies the non-accomplishment of miracles, making an explicit reference to the prophet Elijah and Elisha. Elijah made two great miracles to a widow in Sarepta of Sidon. He made sure that the oil did not run out and the flour did not fail for more than three years. He also resurrected the son of the widow that was dead. Elisha healed only a foreigner from leprosy. If Jesus did some miracles to others and not to his fellow citizens, He does nothing but act according to the style of true prophets. This is a sign of his truth. While it would not be a sign if he performed miracles among them. The people do not accept this justification. On the contrary, it fills with indignation and wants to plunge Jesus from the precipice on which their city was built. But Jesus passes among them and sets off to go elsewhere. But now he knows that there are two ways of being: from God, from the Father, in the Holy Spirit and from the will of men. When He does not say and does not do what men want, he will always be exposed to death. This is why, having to always do the will of his Father, he must be entirely wrapped with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit must take care of Him and also suggest him the simplest words. Jesus cannot walk alone.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, we want to obey God. Intercede for us, praying.