The Scripture for today's reflection can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/073120.cfm
By this point in the gospel of St. Matthew Jesus has already developed a reputation as being a great teacher and healer. His fame was spreading far and wide. By this point in the gospel Jesus has already been tempted by the devil in the desert, was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jorden, healed the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years, raised a dead girl from death to life, heals Peter’s mother-in-law, along with a few other healings that amazed those who saw them. He was also teaching about what it means to be in a loving relationship with God. People were attracted to Jesus because he was helping them feel loved by God and our Lord was able to help increase their faith in the fact that God loved them.
As was his right, Jesus spent some time teaching in the synagogue at Nazareth. The townspeople were quite amazed to hear the local carpenter’s son speaking as he did. “Where did he get his wisdom and his miraculous powers?” All his family were well known to the people and they knew he could not have got it from them but they failed to make the next step as to the real origin of what he was saying and doing. The people of Nazareth were so impressed with Jesus, yet they rejected him! He was just too much for them to deal with. A perfect example of familiarity breeding contempt and blinding the eyes to the obvious. And Jesus sadly comments that a prophet can get a hearing everywhere except among his own.
Probably all of us have had some experience, directly or indirectly, of this! In our call as followers of Jesus, we may find it easier to share our faith with people other than those in our family. People that we have become friends with in church seem to have a better understanding of who we are in our relationship with God then the people in our family who seem to think they know us better.
The gospel for today finishes off by indicating that Jesus was not able to work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. Throughout most all the healings that Jesus performed, faith was central to the healing. Earlier in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 8, after healing the centurion's servant, Jesus says to him, “Your petition has been granted because of your faith.” Let us keep our faith in Jesus strong and solid, no matter what the obstacles may be in our families. Jesus will bring us closer to God through our faith and grant us the emotional and physical healing that we may need. All we need is faith that He will do it for us.
Lord Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief. Amen.
Yes, Deacon Tom, there have been times when I have felt closer & better understood by my brothers & sister in Church community than to some members of my family. My parents understood & were very supportive, especially my Mom. My aunts & uncles, too. But not all of my relatives. Thank God for close community where we find brothers & sisters in CHRIST. The LORD did not call me to form a biological family but to find family in my various Church involvements & communities.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, the pastor of my home parish was arrested for some serious sexual misconduct, & that was a great shock, because I saw him as a very good priest & a very good pastor & the idea of his living a double life seems incomprehensible. He deserves to be arrested & to pay the just punishment for his crime & he needs to repent & to be cured of whatever caused him to do these terrible things. But it hurts me that people on FACEBOOK are calling him "scum" & hoping he rots in jail & refusing to pray for him. To me this is still a priest (though he has now lost his position, vocation & reputation, & rightfully so) with whom I served the LORD & the people of the parish & my brother in CHRIST who needs my prayers for his salvation & for him not to fall into despair. Thank God the associate pastor, who is the only remaining priest & will for a little while have the responsibility of the entire parish on his shoulders, is calling us together to pray for him & to support one another. This is not a time for condemnation but a time of grieving.