The Gospel according to Mark:

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 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. (Mark 6: 1-6)

Reflection The people of Jesus’ native place had terrible discernment. They allowed their preconceived ideas and prejudice of Jesus the man to cloud their judgment to the true Person of Jesus Christ. They could not read the signs.

Sometimes in our lives, we are also blind. We build up an image of who we think God is. We give in to the power of suggestion of who Jesus Christ is. We become deaf to the promptings of the Holy Spirit when He tries to reveal to us a different dimension to God.

We may even struggle to let go of the image we have created over the years of God - this is no longer true worship but idolatry.

Lord, teach me the difference between faithfulness and obstinacy.

Open my eyes to light, my mind to logic, my heart to love and my soul to You. May I be receptive to the way in which You choose to work in me.

Amen.