4th Sunday In Ordinary Time January 30, 2022

Readings: Jeremiah 8.2-4a, 5-6, 8-10, 1Corinthians12. 12-30, Luke 1.1-4; 4.14-21

The Gospel continues the story of the beginning of the public ministry of our Lord Jesus. Jesus does the works that the prophets foretold. By doing those works, He attracts little notice and a great deal of opposition. Christians should prepare themselves for be ignored, overlooked, or marginally known. In Pope Francis address to the U.S Congress, Dorothy Day stood out as the only woman the Pope mentioned. Among Catholics, Day's name is probably familiar, but to the broader public, her legacy isn't quite as well-known. As for the opposition, it is not just angry at Him; it wants to kill Him! Joyously, we can look ahead to his triumphal entry in Jerusalem, when so many of His followers believed Him. Our ancestors exuded resilience to opposition; Catholic missionaries continue in this Holy tradition today.

In the West today, Catholic missionaries from the global south to seek to come to spread the Gospel to recalcitrant and fallen away Catholics. Often, it is tricky for missionaries from poor countries to get visas to the West. Skeptical officials sometime suspect them of seeking a better life on this modern, industrialized, and politically stable world for themselves, rather than eternal life for others. Yet even as the West seems increasingly unwelcoming, the new missionaries will keep coming. The early evangelists braved stormy seas and the risk of being thrown to the lions. These modern heirs will not be deterred by a few rude atheists of long waists for visas, according to a article in the Economist.

Prophesy is fulfilled. Love conquers. And, in spite of the antagonism, Jesus prevails Whatever people do or however they resist, God's will be done. We can oppose God's will, and if we do it to the end, we will face the judgement. In the end, God's will be done at the cosmic level; we love and live our lives and pray for God's mercy that we will be on the right side of His Will at the individual level. The Cross of our Lord is a stumbling block and causes all kinds of problems for people who might want to believe. The freedom of Jesus causes others to stop believing. Those who want to keep everything under control and not let anything unusual happen cannot believe. And you? And me? Can we believe? Do we believe? Are we ready to follow our Lord and die with Him.