Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time Luke 4: 16-30 God’s Mercy has no borders
Nazareth was the town where Jesus grew up. It was not a forgotten village, but a lively town on the slopes of Galilee. From its hills one could see the history of Israel spread out like a map: the battlefields of Deborah and Gideon, the vineyard of Naboth, Mount Carmel where Elijah called down fire from heaven. Caravans passed by on the great roads, pilgrims walked toward Jerusalem, soldiers marched under the Roman eagle. From the beginning, Jesus lived at a crossroads of peoples and histories.
It was there, in the synagogue of Nazareth, that Jesus first announced his mission. He read from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… He has sent me to bring good news to the poor.” At first, the people were amazed. But when Jesus reminded them that God’s mercy had also touched foreigners—the widow of Zarephath, Naaman the Syrian—their amazement turned into anger. How could this young man, whom they had known since childhood, speak as if God’s love extended beyond the boundaries of Israel?
This is the scandal of mercy: God’s love is always greater than our calculations. It breaks down our walls, it embraces those we would exclude.
Two lessons stand out. First, Jesus faithfully went to the synagogue every Sabbath. Even when worship was imperfect, he prayed with his people. We too are called to remain faithful to our community, even with its weaknesses, because God still meets us there.
Second, Jesus brings Good News. John the Baptist proclaimed judgment; Jesus reveals the tenderness of the Father. He comes not to condemn, but to free, to heal, to restore.
The question for us is simple: Can we rejoice that God’s mercy knows no borders?
全属于祢 
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