Daily Reflection – 2/5/2020
Sacred Scripture
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. (Mark 6:1-6)
Reflection
What happened in Nazareth was a foretaste of the later reaction of the scribes and Pharisees to Christ’s claim to be the promised Messiah. His community, turned against him in bitter hatred and there and then decided to put an end to his career. Why? Because the demon of envy, a daughter of pride, laid hold of their hearts and minds. Why should a neighbor’s son, and one of a lower status than many of them—a mere carpenter, be given this privilege while their sons were passed over? This could not be, their envy told them, and so they shut their minds against any proof to the contrary. It was the same later in the case of the Pharisees.
Those vices of envy and pride have corrupted so many over the course of humankind.
Envy, like pride, is dark. Think of what it does. It dulls a person’s appreciation of others and of events. It leads people into a more inward life. It leads to a life that knows no joy but lives on critique, dislike and criticism.
To resist their intrusion into our lives, we need to hold on to our root cause. Jesus humbled himself so that we might be raised to the standing of sons and daughters of God. He shared our human nature with us so that we could share his divine nature. He died a cruel death on Calvary so that we could have an eternal life in heaven. How can we hold on to the sin of pride when all that we are and all that we should be came from another so much greater than we?
Let us renew our loyalty to Christ today. We pray for light for those whose foolish pride has left them groping in darkness. Let us also ask the good God to keep us ever on the road of truth, the road of Christian humility which leads to our eternal home which Christ has won for us by his incarnation.
Christ will continue to reign and lead all men and women whose minds are free from sinful pride and open to the truth to eternal life.
Prayer of The Day
Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and desires. Your Spirit brings us grace, truth, life, and freedom. Fill me with the joy of the gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for you and for your will.
Daily Note
Jesus came to set people free from the worst tyranny possible — the tyranny of slavery to sin and the fear of death, and the destruction of both body and soul. God’s power alone can save us from emptiness and poverty of spirit, from confusion and error, and from the fear of death and hopelessness. The gospel of salvation is “good news” for us today. Do you know the joy and freedom of the gospel?
