Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

 

Gospel Reading: Mark 6:1-6

 

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.  When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus returns home with his disciples to preach the Word in Nazareth. The towns people are astonished and amazed at his wisdom, but at the same time full of doubt and disbelief. One would think that his own towns people would celebrate his accomplishments, but instead they are critical of his abilities. Because of this disbelief, they are unable to open their hearts to the Good News.  In fact, they were offended by his abilities and what he was saying. Are we not the same to the people who are closest to us. The people who judge us most severely are generally our closest friends and family. And likewise, the people we are harshest to are those that are closest to us.  The people that are closest to us are the ones who have the hardest time believing in our success. They cannot believe that a carpenter, a simple man, a common laborer can be so profound in his wisdom. He is no longer just the son of Mary, but now a Rabi professing the Word of God with amazing wisdom.

 

It says that Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith. Is Jesus amazed at your faith or your lack of faith? Have you become so familiar with your faith that you no longer see the wonder and awe of our Lord. Has your religion become so boring that you have begun to ignore it? As we approach lent a week from now, it is time to renew our commitment to God and to our faith. No matter how familiar we have become with our faith, we need to renew it as if it were a brand new friend we have just met for the first time. We need to have that new found curiosity which helps us dig deeper and find out more. It needs to help lead us to a more solid foundation from which to grow. We need to find the wonder and awe that allows us to form a life-long bond with Christ.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, open my eyes to a new found relationship with God.

Let me experience the Gospels like a new found friend.

Help me inspire my curiosity so that I may grow in faith to be your servant.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon