GOSPEL, Matthew (13: 54-58)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
54 He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” 58 And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
Jesus goes to the synagogue in Nazareth, the town in which he was raised. In the presence of his countrymen, he shows His wisdom and authority. At first, they exclaim! “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?” Then their surprise manifests itself in a different way: “Is not his mother called Mary ?And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us?”. Consequently, in a final moment, they distrust and take offence to Him.
Jesus’ countrymen were not able to overcome their prejudices. In that very moment, with Him among them, they could not see with greater depth and clarity of vision and so recognize Him as the Son of God.
If through the signs, one cannot not understand their meaning, one does not have faith, but only the material aspect of the experience. Hence, Jesus says, “Prophets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.”
Jesus was misunderstood and despised, as were all the prophets… The same will be true of his disciples. Paul will speak of the scandal of the cross (Mark 14:27, 29; 1Cor 1:23). The fate of the prophets, of Jesus, of the disciples is always the same, to be rejected, to be the object of mockery, contempt, persecution and often, violent death. Christ and his messengers are not easily accepted.
The Church needs witnesses of God to smile and share, to show love, hope and commitment to the poor and all others in need, to be prophets, of love in Christ and servants of reconciliation for both humanity and of the world.
God reveals himself to those who have faith. In sincere prayer and deep daily reflection, we become true decoders of signs throughout the day!
PRAYER
Holy Father, remove the veil from our eyes and give us the light of the Spirit, so that we may know, how to recognize your glory in the humiliation of your Son and in our human frailty, experience the power of his resurrection. Amen.