Today’s readings are about meeting people for the first time or re-meeting after you have not seen someone for a long time. In either scenario both sides can have thoughts about who the others are and how they will react.
In the first reading from the First Book of Corinthians (2:1-5) Paul talks about he was worried about meeting them for the first time. He says “I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling…”. This tells me he was worried that they might reject him and his message about Jesus or worse he might be subjected to harsh treatment.
In the gospel Luke (4:16-30) recounts Jesus’s return to Nazareth. He gets up in the synagogue and reads a passage and all are amazed. But instead of accepting Him for who He as become they ask “Is this not the son of Joseph?” They were essentially saying “come on we know this guy how could He be anything special?”
I think the parallel in both of these stories is to realize that you should take people for who they currently are and how they act in the present.
Paul’s experience with the Corinthians was positive because they accepted him for who he was and what he was there to do. If the Nazarians would have just taken Jesus for who He was they could have enjoyed all He had to offer. Instead they forced Him from their town.
Be careful with prejudgment…
GVW4U 