In today’s Gospel Jesus goes home and is not well received by his neighbors and boyhood friends. Large crowds from other towns and villages followed him around causing a great commotion throughout the region…and even though ”his people” were “astonished” by his words, they did not believe in him. Perhaps their familiarity with Jesus and his family blinded them to his awesome power and their lack of faith prevented Jesus from working miracles in their presence. Aware of their lack of acceptance of him, Jesus acknowledged that a prophet is seldom if ever accepted in his/her home town!
Perhaps it was jealousy or fear that kept Jesus’ neighbors and friends from accepting and acknowledging his power and true identity. Often enough our own insecurities prevent us from rejoicing in the successes of our family and friends…how sad when we cannot rejoice in and raise up the prophets in our midst…perhaps because they challenge us to see things with new eyes…perhaps it is because they challenge us to change how we live our lives!
Being a true disciple of Jesus means that we are all called to live prophetic lives, witnessing to the Gospel through our words and actions…and we, like Jesus, will be rejected in some places by those who refuse the challenge of living a Gospel centered life. How am I being called to be a prophet? How much time do I make to listen for what God is calling me to? Am I willing to risk being rejected by neighbors and friends to speak the truth of the Gospel?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
Perhaps it was jealousy or fear that kept Jesus’ neighbors and friends from accepting and acknowledging his power and true identity. Often enough our own insecurities prevent us from rejoicing in the successes of our family and friends…how sad when we cannot rejoice in and raise up the prophets in our midst…perhaps because they challenge us to see things with new eyes…perhaps it is because they challenge us to change how we live our lives!
Being a true disciple of Jesus means that we are all called to live prophetic lives, witnessing to the Gospel through our words and actions…and we, like Jesus, will be rejected in some places by those who refuse the challenge of living a Gospel centered life. How am I being called to be a prophet? How much time do I make to listen for what God is calling me to? Am I willing to risk being rejected by neighbors and friends to speak the truth of the Gospel?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
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