Lectio Divina Week 3: Is not this Joseph's son?

Luke 4:21-30    Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Arbel Cliffs, Sea of Galilee, North Israel              

Image courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org

Context:  This is the conclusion of the passage from last week ... Remember we left Jesus at the "home" synagogue in the town where he grew up.  The people had listened and seemed to have received Jesus.  Everything is going so well ... or so it seems ... He is our Joseph's boy after all!

*If you need to refresh your memory, check the Scripture reading (Luke 4:14-21) and the context from last week's lectio divina to re-orient yourself to our reading for today.  You might also check out the layout of the Temple in Jerusalem to get an idea of the systemic religious layering of exclusion/inclusion that the Israelites had lived with for generations.  See the outer court where women were allowed ... See also the Court of Lepers, which is where the unclean and lepers went for their purification rituals that would qualify them to move deeper into the "presence" of God in the Temple when they were declared "clean" but only if they were men.  Men were allowed in the Israelites Hall and Priests in the Priests Hall ... Only the high priest was allowed to travel deep into the temple all the way to the Holy of Holies.

Everything is going well ... and then it turns in the midst of the passage!   Jesus gets confrontational ... he almost seems to be asking for trouble ... what is going on?  He challenges religious protocol.  He not only suggests ministry to the marginalized (a woman and a leper) but to Gentiles (one from Sidon and one from Syria)!  Jesus suggests that the Reign (kingdom) of God is available to those “outside” the community of the faithful!    

Going Deeper ... Pondering ... 

Have you ever heard Christians speak out against certain people, trying to keep them "outside" the Reign of God?  Who were those persons excluded from the community?  Is there anyone you think is "outside" or "excluded" from the Reign of God?  Jesus told the truth about who he was.  Have you ever felt excluded by others because of your "truth-telling?"  How were you able to overcome your fears or concerns?  How were you able to move on?  What was that experience like for you?  How have you changed because of your experience?


Jesus was a very inclusive person ... he interacted with women, children, lepers, foreigners, sinners ... has anyone ever made you feel included?  What did that feel like?  What inspires you to be inclusive?  What obstacles do you face in being inclusive?  Who is God calling you to reach out to ... to include in your life?


Angry people took Jesus to the cliffs but he "passed through the midst of them and went on his way."  Can you envision this interaction ... how do you think Jesus went on his way?  Do you sense that he escaped with his life or do you have more of a sense that he just walks away in the confusion?  How does this episode give us a clue to the nonviolent way of Jesus?  How does that challenge or affirm your way of being?  Where is God in the midst of this encounter?  

Where is God in the midst of your life?  Take this passage into deep prayer ...

Praying with Scripture ... Lectio Divina
The monastic form of Lectio Divina is an ancient method that was practiced by the Mothers and Fathers of the Desert and later in monasteries both East and West. The monastic way is unstructured. One listens to the word of God in a particular passage chosen for the occasion and then one follows the attraction of the Spirit.

If you have time to come back ... this is really best done on a different day with a fresh spirit ... if you are doing this on the same day take the time to breathe deeply and let go of all of your "thinkings" about this passage so you can read with new eyes.

Moment 1: Lectio (Read) the Scripture passage for the (second) first time. Listen with the "ear of your heart." What phrase, sentence or even one word stands out to you? Begin to repeat that phrase, sentence or one word over and over, allowing it to settle deeply in your heart. If you get distracted, simply return to the repetition of the phrase, sentence or word, savoring it in your heart.

Moment 2: Meditatio (Reflect) as you relish the words. Let them resound in your heart. Let an attitude of quiet receptiveness permeate the prayer time. Be attentive to what speaks to your heart.

Moment 3: Oratio (Respond) spontaneously as you continue to listen to a phrase, sentence or word. A prayer of praise, thanksgiving or petition may arise. Offer that prayer, and then return to repeating the word in your heart.

Moment 4: Contemplatio (Rest) in God. Simply "be with" God's presence as you open yourself to a deeper hearing of the Word of God.  If you feel drawn back to the scriptures, follow the lead of the Spirit.

A Challenge for your week:  After resting, take the phrase, sentence, or word into your daily activity and listen to it, reflect on it, pray over it, and rest in it as time allows during the day. Allow it to become part of you. 

This method of Lectio Divina emerges from Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.