4^th Sunday in O.T. (C); February 3, 2019

Jer 1:4-5, 17-19   Ps 71   1 Cor 12:31-13:13   Lk 4:21-30

Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison

 

The readings today relate the beginning of the two great prophetic careers of Jeremiah and Jesus. Jeremiah’s prophesies are driven by the revelation given on Mt. Sinai that Israel is God’s Chosen People, who are to be a light to the other nations. In other words, Israel does not exist for its own sake, but for the sake of the world, for other nations. And, since the Church is the New Israel, the same is true for the baptized.   We are not meant to bask in our Christian faith—“I’m saved; end of story”—but our function, our mission is to be a beacon to the world so that everyone can come to know the one true God. Brothers, if you’ve been baptized, you have the same mission as Jesus: to proclaim the Good News of Salvation and to baptize all nations. Our here-and-now condition does not change the Mission; we just have to adapt to where we live: in your case, Folsom Prison.

The reading from Jeremiah provides the setting for the Gospel. Jesus, fresh from his baptism in which he comes to the full realization of who he is—the beloved Son of the Father—and his struggle with the Devil—who tried to seduce him with the false interpretation of what it meant to be the Son of God—returns to his hometown, goes to the synagogue and chooses a passage to read. He selects a passage from the prophet Isaiah, which articulates what he knows about himself: namely, the Messianic transformation of the world. When the Messiah would come, the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the oppressed would go free, and a year of favor of the Lord would be proclaimed. But, here’s the key point: instead of citing this as something that would one day come, he declares it fulfilled precisely in him: “Today the Scripture passage is fulfilled in our hearing” (Luke 4:21).

Brothers, since the Gospel is written in the present tense, Jesus is telling us today that we can be healed of our spiritual blindness; that we can hear the truth; that we can be liberated from all that oppresses us. And, this is not some future expectation, but “Today the Scriptural passage is fulfilled in our hearing.” This is overwhelming and energizing. But, the question is: do we want to receive it? Do we have the faith that Jesus is who he says he is, Immanuel—God among us, who can restore our sight, hearing, and who can liberate us? You might be thinking, “I’m in prison. I’ve done bad things. Why would Jesus do that for me?” He would do it because He loves you and he wants you to share his mercy with others.

Let’s go back to the Gospel. While the respectable townspeople are amazed and favorably disposed at Jesus’ gracious words that came out of his mouth, he throws them a curve. He invokes two relatively obscure stories from the Old Testament tradition to show that his messianic mission is universal in scope. NO ONE IS EXCLUDED! The first story deals with Elijah the prophet. During a time of drought, Elijah was not sent to Israel, but to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon, which is Lebanon today (vs. 26-27). Hmm, in other words, he was sent to a marginalized foreigner. In this time of need—a three year drought—he is sent not to Israel, but to an outsider.

Brothers, you know what is like to be on the margins, to be excluded. But it’s that very person, the marginalized foreigner who Jesus cites as receiving the prophet’s blessing.

Then Jesus invokes another obscure story from the Old Testament, one dealing with Elijah’s successor, Elisha. During the time when there were many lepers in Israel, Naaman the Syrian was cured of the disease. Naaman was a general from another country who was rival to Israel. Suffering from leprosy, he comes to Israel, where Elisha tells him to bathe in the river Jordan and he’s cured of his leprosy. Jesus was saying that in this moment of national need, this prophet of Israel ministered not to Israel, but to an outsider. At these key moments in Israelite history, God catered to the needs of other nations, not Israel. Jesus is telling his townspeople something that is central to their religious tradition, but often overlooked: Israel is called to reveal the one true God to all.

            Now we can tell right away from the Gospel context that this message is not a very popular message. Luke says that “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 the brow of the hill on which the town had been built, to hurl him down headlong” (vs. 28-29).

What a change in attitude! A few moments ago they were speaking highly of him for the gracious words that came out of his mouth. Now, they’re so angry, they want to kill him!

Why? Jesus won’t give them what they want. He won’t be a Messiah for them alone.

O.K., you may be thinking that’s be a good biblical insight as to how the ancient Israelites viewed the Messiah, but what this got to do with us at Folsom Prison?

Put simply, brothers, this reading reminds us that Jesus’ messianic mission is now in your hands. As members of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, we have the same purpose as Israel’s: namely, to be a light to other nations so that they may come to know the one true God. As the baptized People of God, who happen to be in Folsom Prison, your condition does not change your mission. You don’t stop being baptized because you are incarcerated. So, your purpose is to be conduits of God’s love to the rest of the prison world. You become the light to those who are wandering in the darkness of prison culture. So, how do you reveal the one true God to all?

First, you pray always as Jesus challenges us to. You regularly go into the Quiet where you become still and know that God is there. In so doing, awakened to the God who dwells within, you will be gradually transformed.

Second, you study—you become a continual learner of Sacred Scripture and our rich Catholic Tradition. How can we be a light to others if we don’t know our Faith? Allow Scripture and Tradition to form your mind and heart, which will impact how you live your life.

Third, be counter-cultural within the dominant consciousness of Folsom Prison. Be extravagantly generous with your life. As a member of the Body of Christ; do what Jesus does: GIVE YOURSELF AWAY! Share yourself where it is needed. Be generous with the virtues of kindness and compassion. Search your hearts and be a joyful giver in a way that you can bring the best version of yourself to the yard, to the work place, and to your cell block. Focus on the present moment, trusting that God is in charge and all that you do will work towards God’s purposes.

Finally, along with your brothers and sisters throughout the world, embrace the new Evangelization. Remember, you are to be a light to others and that light is the Risen Christ. Grace is flowing into you and the divine life is meant to be shared. As St. Paul invites us and challenges us: LIVE IN CHRIST! If you do, you will experience joy and happiness that will radiate from your person, which will be noticed by others.. Being a joyful Christian is the best way to be a light to the nations. Christ needs you to be a joyful presence in Folsom Prison. Jesus needs you to carry out his Messianic mission, which is our purposes as Church wherever we may be. Amen.