All of Us are Extraordinary People!

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

"A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Have you ever tried to impress your own family or the neighbors you grew up with? In today's gospel (Matthew 13:53-58), Jesus returns to the town where he grew up. They would not recognize him as the Messiah. How could he be, he was the son of a carpenter. We all have difficulty believing that those we are familiar with can do extraordinary things since all of us are ordinary people. Jesus' own town folks commented that this can't be the Messiah, he's the son of Mary, and he's only a carpenter's son. Our most sever critics are generally those we are closest to. They are the ones who can't believe we did that extraordinary thing.

We are simple people, how can we perform miracles? How can we preach to those that we know? This week, we took 48 youth to St. Louis for catholic heart Work Camp – 48 ordinary teenagers who did extraordinary things. How many of their friends would believe that they did what they did, yet in St. Louis these teenagers were the most amazing teenagers in the world according to the local residence. To listen to the residences talk you would of thought these kids walked on water. The Holy Spirit flooded their souls and their hearts and they shared the love of God with St. Louis.

Have we become so familiar with Christ that we do not recognize him and his miracles that are all around us? Many times we do not recognize the blessing which have been bestowed upon us. Do you go to church and not recognize or sit in awestruck at the Eucharistic Mystery because it is familiar? Today's gospel challenges us see God's miracles as if it were the first time we met him. We should great Jesus like we do a new born baby. Everyone wants to hold the new baby and embrace the miracle. We should do this everyday with our faith and our commitment to God. God breeds new life in us through his miracles. If we do not believe, how can we recognize the miracles when we witness them?

A Simple Prayer

Father, give me the new life.

Help me renew my friendship with you.

Help me, an ordinary person, become extraordinary.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon