3 July 2025

Right at the start of his Galilean ministry, Jesus reveals the liberating power of God’s love in an unusual way. In the synagogue, he preaches a gospel of freedom – good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind…. At first, the people are impressed but they become hostile. ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ they say.

This proverb  means roughly, ‘Charity begins at home!’ But Jesus doesn’t agree. Remember Elijah! He ministered to the widow of Zarephath. Remember Elisha! He healed Naaman, the Syrian. Neither were Jews but both were imprisoned by poverty and disease.

The people were challenged by Jesus’ preaching. They hound him out of the synagogue and almost kill him. Jesus appears untouched by their aggressive determination to imprison him in their narrow world view. They meant to throw him over a cliff but St. Luke says, ‘He passed through the midst of them and went on his way.’

He was untouched not only physically but also spiritually because he had an inner freedom which came from God. People who have this inner freedom cannot be touched. This manifests itself in two ways.

Firstly, contentment. Because they are in touch with a deeper reality, they are untroubled by the fearful things which happen to them. They have cast their burden upon the Lord knowing that he will sustain them.

Secondly, courage. This perspective has liberated them to speak and to act according to what they know to be true. Nothing else matters except the truth. ‘You will know the truth,’ says Jesus, ‘and the truth will set you free.’