Enraging good news

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes the Myer Boultons' current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

Jesus, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and still wet from his baptism, comes back to his home synagogue, publicly claims that he is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy, and is praised by everyone. Then, within five verses, everyone in the synagogue is filled with rage. They drive him out of town so that they might hurl him off a cliff.

What happened? After the reading and commentary, Jesus argues that—as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be—God’s good news is for the most vulnerable. This is hard to hear when you’re the rich one dressed in fine purple linen, passing by the poor man Lazarus covered in sores and begging to eat the scraps of food that fall from your table.