Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

Matthew: 13:54-58

54 and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 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, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Have you ever tried to impress your own family or the neighbors you grew up with? In today's gospel, 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? Every day ordinary people do extraordinary things. Every day ordinary people step out of their ordinary lives and experience something miraculous. How many of your friends would believe that you can do something amazing and miraculous. Christ called ordinary fishermen to come follow him. He is also calling us, ordinary people, to come and follow him, to do his will and spread his word. Do you hear him? What is he calling you to do?

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 every day 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