Daily Reflection – 1/31/21024
Sacred Scripture
He 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 Joses 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. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching. (Mark 6:1-6)
Reflection
The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus and refused to listen to what he had to say. If people have come together to hate and to refuse to understand, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others.
They despised his preaching because he was a mere workman, a carpenter, and a layman who had no formal training by a scholar or teacher. They also despised him because of his undistinguished family background. How familiarity can breed contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in their midst because they were closed-minded and unbelieving towards him.
That is a sad commentary on the Nazarenes. One cannot help but shake one’s head at the animosity and the ignorance that was shown. If we were teaching children, we would be pointing out the meanness that was evident in their words and actions. Surely, we would never want our children to behave that way.
But we do.
We condone an animus of the spirit every time we allow our children to describe a person in mocking tones. We chuckle slyly when we hear a person use words which disparage, which demean, and which cause division.
All of the actions and more are part of the culture in which we live. All of these actions and more shine our light to our soul and call into question whether we truly are followers of Jesus Christ. We need to look in the mirror and ask whether we are part of the problem. We truly do.
It’s a sad commentary that, in these times, we can quickly see whether a person is a Christian or not.
When we reject strangers—we reject Jesus. It doesn’t matter what our rejection is based on. When we reject others, we do not love them as we were commanded to…and we limit God’s hand in their lives and in ours. When we reject those closest to us—we reject Jesus as well just as in today’s Gospel.
Jesus built a new community and called it to a new mission. He and his disciples built together a shalom community in the midst of a society that was far from peace.
We are members of that new community. We are participants in God’s plan. If we as Christians truly respect and follow our Lord, we will exercise our discipleship in the same way. We will appeal to people by finding creative ways to show them how much Christ loves them and how satisfying and fulfilling it is to follow him, both now and forever.
The most eloquent and effective testimony is our own example of Christian love. The more we love others as Christ has loved us – serving ingeniously and without looking for recompense, being equally kind with everyone no matter how costly it is to our natural feelings, forgiving quickly and without conditions, always speaking positively and never gossiping, detracting, or destructively criticizing – the more his grace flourishes in our souls.
Then virtue takes root and grows. Then we begin to experience in our own lives the happiness and the peace, that Christ wants for us. That, in turn, attracts others to the Lord.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, teach me to receive you with a heart that rises above those actions that are not in keeping with your teachings and your gift of selflessness. Help me to follow your teachings and your commands in true obedience, where true love proves itself.”
Daily Note
When Christ comes to us to fulfill the law and the prophets, will we open our hearts to Him and offer up our weaknesses and shortcomings? Or will we turn our back on our friend and brother as the people of Nazareth did? As Christ did with both, the choice is ours to make.
The first paragraph of the Reflection seems to describe what is happening in our country- notably MAGA supporters- though it can also apply across various versions of the US political parties.