Gospel

MK 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.

Reflection:

My husband started our discussion and said, “What stands out in this Gospel is that those who knew him as a child have difficulty believing him.

My oldest daughter agreed. She said that “their lack of faith in him must have been somewhat disappointing to Him.”

Have you ever known someone when they were younger and they were very shy, and then you meet them later in your adult years, and they are now very social? Well, I do, and it was a shock for me to see this. How could that be? Such a total difference.

My husband said that since these people knew Him one way, it was hard for them to think of Him in a different light. His teachings were more effective to total strangers than to those who knew Him. But those who knew Him from his youth did not really know Him as an “adult” and their hearts were closed to is teaching. They lacked faith. I think this may be where the phrase “familiarity breeds contempt” comes from.

Let us pray that Jesus will help all of our priests bring Christ to everyone, even those whose minds have been closed. And that the people, the flock that they shepherd, will be receptive to their teachings.

May God bless us all.