Grace and Space

Lk 4:38-44
Proclaiming Good News: In the narrative concerning the rejection of Jesus at Nazareth (4:16-30) Luke portrayed Jesus as a prophet. In the account of the cure of the demoniac, he presented Jesus as a teacher (4:31-32) and an exorcist (4:33-37). In this section, Luke portrays Jesus as a healer and a proclaimer of God’s kingdom.
Jesus enters the house of Simon and heals his mother-in-law. This action, along with the cure of people sick with various diseases, demonstrates that Jesus is a healer.
The positive reaction of the crowd in Capernaum is contrasted to the negative reaction of the crowd in Nazareth. In Capernaum, the people tried to prevent Jesus from leaving. In Nazareth, they were ready to kill him. This contrast fulfills the proverb that “no prophet is accepted in his own native place” (4:24).
For Luke, Jesus becomes the model evangelizer. He moves to other towns to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. Throughout the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, Luke narrates how this will be carried on by the members of his community.