Word to the Wise
Friday, August 4, 2017 - Friday in the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
[Lev 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37 and Matt 13:54-58]But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. [Matthew]
AUGUST 4, ST. JOHN VIANNEY
It seems clear from all four of the gospel portraits of Jesus that those who were kin to him and others in his hometown of Nazareth had trouble accepting him as anything other than the "carpenter's son." It is startling to see that a lack of faith in him kept him from working "mighty deeds" in Nazareth. In the account by Luke (ch. 4), the townspeople run him out of town! In the Gospel According to Mark (ch. 3), his family decide "He is out of his mind," and try to seize him. The old saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt..." comes to mind and the tendency shown in Nazareth is still to be found anywhere people think somebody is "getting above him/herself."
This can happen to any of us who get skeptical about witness to the faith that goes beyond the ordinary "go to Mass and sacraments" Catholicism. It can be especially strong if we have known someone for a long time and wonder where their commitment "is coming from." This unsupportive reaction can be frustrating to someone whose faith has become a major force in his or her life and feel it is worth sharing. One of the letters of St. Peter tells us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us. What we may need to ask ourselves is, "Am I one of the skeptics, or am I someone whose faith can work mighty deeds?" AMEN
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