Openness to Truth is Openness to God

HOMILY: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 4:21-30

30 January 2022 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Do you recall last year’s controversial interview of Oprah Winfrey with Megan Markle and Britain’s Prince Harry? In that interview the couple related their shocking decision to give up their royal titles and establish their family as ordinary citizens. In that same conversation, they also shared some of their sad and painful experiences while living as royals. The palace staff allegedly imposed a very rigorous and strict routine that they felt they could no longer be themselves and when they did go against protocol, they said they were criticized and reprimanded. Megan said she suffered from depression and contemplated taking her life. Harry, himself, disclosed that the palace took issue on whether their first born would take after his wife’s dark skin. Of course, we do not know the whole story. It nevertheless, shocked the world because in the eyes of their fans and their royal subjects, they had to be living a fairy tale life as they were of course a prince and a princess (officially the Duchess of Sussex). We assume that people who are good-looking, rich and famous like them would never experience any of these unpleasant things in life. They were such public figures that the whole world thought they knew everything there was to know about them.

In today’s gospel passage, we can very well see how Jesus was also a victim of people’s prejudices toward Him. Sadly, Jesus receives a hostile reception from those who are supposed to be more supportive and understanding of Him. “That’s just Jesus!” “We know him.” He’s a local boy, nothing special.” “Who is he to tell us what to do? Where does he get the guts to preach in the synagogue?” They thought that having witnessed Jesus growing up, they already know Him. It was a challenge to convince them that He was something more. Besides, Jesus didn’t fit the mould of the Messiah they were expecting. Thus, Jesus could only respond: “A prophet is not without honour except in his native place and in his own house.” (Luke 4:24) Their prejudice prevented them from recognizing the truth about Him. 

In fact, in another version of the gospel episode, we are told that because of their lack of faith in Jesus, He could not do many mighty works in his home area. (Matthew 13:58) The people’s initial appreciation of His wisdom and miraculous deeds was quite shallow as it easily turned into hostility and their utter rejection of Him. It is indeed discouraging to do some good works or to share what one knows if we are not appreciated. Worse, if one’s good intentions are even questioned and doubted. Don’t get me wrong, the power of Jesus was never dependent on whether people believed Him or not. He simply saw that they were so hard-hearted that no matter what He did, they would not change their minds. He concentrated His efforts elsewhere where He knew He could make an impact in people’s hearts and minds. After all, His mission was not to prove Himself, His credibility nor His identity but rather it was to sow the seeds of the Kingdom in the hearts of humanity. 

Like Jesus, the most loving person who ever lived, many of us may also find ourselves rejected, even hated and destroyed in our desire to pursue goodness and integrity. The sad truth is the more accepting we are of others, transcending labels and prejudices, the more likely we will be rejected, persecuted and hated, even by ‘religious’ people themselves. Take Pope Francis, for example. You would be amazed at the bashings he gets from some sectors within the church regarding some of his pronouncements for inclusivity and acceptance of others. He believes that the church should show compassion for the members of the LGBTQ community and for couples not married in church. However, his words were twisted by people to suit their agenda and misinterpreted by ultraconservatives as contrary to church teachings. It is indeed difficult to love. It is very hard to live out God’s commands. This is precisely why St. Paul in today’s Second Reading urges us to “strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts”, “the more excellent way”, which is the way of “love”, of “charity”. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

As a prophet, this was also the experience of Jeremiah. The Lord clearly warned him to brace himself for opposition and rejection in passing on God’s message to the people. These days, there are a good number of brother-priests who are among the most bashed persons in social media simply because they voice out their political views and opinions or call people out for their inconsistency of beliefs. A priest-friend told me that some trolls are trying to harass him online and teach him how to be a priest himself… Some of them are not even Catholics themselves… To which he responded… “And why should we base our priesthood on what trolls say about how it should be lived out? Di nga kayo nagbabasa ng Church documents on priesthood, ayaw niyo pa sa katotohanan, at okay lang sa inyo ang pumatay, magnakaw, magsinungaling (yung mga labag sa utos ng Diyos ayon sa Bibliya), tapos you now have the audacity to tell us how we should be as priests? LOL” As Christians we draw encouragement from what St. Paul tells the Thessalonians: “Speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4) In other words, our calling as Christians is to solely please God for He alone truly knows us. He knows us more than other people know us or we know ourselves. 

Throughout human history this tragic story of Jeremiah and Jesus, and actually all other prophets who were rejected, maligned, and killed thereafter, continues to happen over and over again among the messengers of truth and justice in our time.  It is the messenger who pays a very high price.  Nevertheless, we should not be discouraged. We should instead opt for what is right, true and just despite the challenges we encounter. God assures us, as He assured Jeremiah that He would bless us with the necessary strength to carry out His message. “They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:19) When God makes a promise, He never goes back on it. How wonderful it is to know that as long as we bravely speak the truth, God is on our side. Let us remain open to the truth. Let us trust that God would never leave us alone.