A Few Words On "The Word"

January 28, 2007
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Luke 4:21-30

A Preferential Option

It sure is great having friends in high places. Friends can cut deals for us, get us into the movies for free, or give us the discount at their store so we can buy that new jacket. Relationships with the right people may be the difference between getting a good job or a great job. When we are friends with people we often give preference to their needs just as they give preference to ours.

Unfortunately, this isn't always the right thing to do. Giving people discounts or free items is probably against the rules and may lead to getting fired. Receiving a great job because of friendly connections may mean that someone who truly deserved the job or needed it more didn't get it.

It's natural to show preference to those we love. Friends and family are important and we want to do all we can to show them our love and keep them in our lives. However, Jesus shows us that preferential treatment of those we already know can lead to injustice.

The gospel reading today picks up where last week's left off. Jesus is teaching in the synagogue at Nazareth, his hometown. Those present are amazed at his wisdom. Having heard that Jesus has cured people throughout Galilee they desire a miracle of their own. However, that isn't what Jesus has in mind. By reading a scripture verse to them, Jesus implies that even though they supposedly know him, he will give them no special treatment.

This infuriates the Nazarenes. First of all, they have a preconceived notion of who Jesus is since they have watched him grow up. They know that he is just a simple carpenter. Therefore, where does his great wisdom come from? Who is he to lecture them? Furthermore, Jesus' friends are no different than us today. They give preference to those they know and expect Jesus to do the same. If he has performed miracles somewhere else he should accomplish twice as many for the people of Nazareth.

As usual, Jesus refuses to think that way. He knows that it is very easy to love those who already love us. The challenge is to love those we don't know or those who hate us. Many people need our love and the action it inspires, especially the poor and oppressed who often go unloved.

The Catholic Church teaches us that we should live our lives with a preferential option for the poor. Everything we do should take into account the effect our actions will have on the impoverished. The preferential option should therefore be carried out both passively and actively. It's important to work directly with the poor and oppressed to bring justice and peace into their lives. However, all of us must daily commit ourselves to action that gives preference to those we do not know and may never meet.

Preferential treatment is certainly a benefit of having close relationships, and it should be. Nonetheless, we must continuously live in a way that breaks the cycle of oppression so prevalent in society. The preferential option for the poor enables us to be active peacebuilders even when we cannot physically reach out to those in need.

Reflection Question

Have you experienced a time when you decided to give preference to the poor instead of friends or family?

In what ways can you live out the preferential option for the poor on a daily basis?

What sacrifices can you make to ensure that the preferential option is a reality in your life?

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