Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
It is said that familiarity breeds contempt.
The people of Jesus’ hometown had long known that he was the boy who got lost in the Temple and gave his parents a fright when they couldn’t find him. They knew Jesus as the teenager who was taught how to be a carpenter by his father, Joseph. They remembered Jesus sitting with their own sons to learn the way of the Torah under the tutelage of the local rabbi.
What they could not fathom, however, is his claim that he was different: that God was his true Father. They could not wrap their heads that he was the fulfillment of every prophecy of the Hebrew Scriptures.
And they could not — or, rather, they would not — believe in him. The Gospel today puts it succinctly, “And they took offense at him.”
Jesus once said that if we had faith only the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. Today, not even that amount of faith is found in his own townsfolk. Thus, “He was not able to perform any mighty deed there. . . He was amazed at their lack of faith.”
Think of the mighty deeds that happen each week in our parishes. The Word of God is spoken to us and lives are changed as hearts are converted. In baptism, the Holy Spirit is poured into the child (or adult) and original sin is washed away as a new child of God is made an heir to God’s Kingdom. At Mass, bread and wine are brought to the altar to become the Body and Blood of Christ that we will consume in Holy Communion. In marriage, two people become one flesh. God does work mighty deeds among us!
Sadly, we know that many people do not see what we see. They lack the ears of faith to hear God speaking in the Sacred Scriptures and the eyes of faith to see God present in our sacraments. It looks all too ordinary to them. Some will even take offense at what we believe — at who we believe - Jesus.
This was true for Jesus in his hometown. It is true for us, too, in our hometowns as well. Yet, we persevere and announce to everyone that God DOES speak to us and that Jesus IS present to us.
Ultimately, it is important that WE believe — and this is the faith that we share with others, praying that they will too.
Have a blessed week everyone.