Gospel – Mark 6:1-6
Jesus went to his hometown, and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the Sabbath, he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of them were astonished when they heard him.
They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him.
And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is despised only in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, except that he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He made a tour round the villages, teaching.
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Pat Carey, RIP
And Joseph Blaj, RIP
Reflection:
Jesus in Saint Mark’s Gospel today returns to Nazareth. At that time Jesus went to his hometown, and his disciples accompanied him. “With the coming of the Sabbath, he began teaching in the Synagogue.”
It is always good to return to one’s own hometown and to find the friends. After a long absence, Jesus also returns and, as usual, on Saturday, he goes to the Synagogue to participate in the meeting of the community. Jesus was not the coordinator of the community, but even if he was not, he takes the floor and begins to teach. This is a sign that persons could participate and express their own opinion.
It’s interesting to note the Reaction of the people of Nazareth before Jesus. The people of Capernaum had accepted the teaching of Jesus, but the people of Nazareth did not like the words of Jesus and were scandalized. For what reason?
Jesus, the boy whom they had known since he was born, how is it that now he is so different? They do not accept God’s mystery present in Jesus, a human being, and common as they are, known by all! They think that to be able to speak of God, he should be different from them! As we can see, not everything went well for Jesus.
The persons who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News were precisely those who had the greatest difficulty to accept it. The conflict was not only with foreigners, but also, and especially with his own relatives and with the people of Nazareth. They refused to believe in Jesus, because they could not understand the mystery of God embracing the person of Jesus.
“From where do all these things come to him? And what wisdom is this which has been given to him? And these miracles which are worked by him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph and Jude and Simon? His sisters too, are they not here with us?” And they would not accept him, they do not believe in Jesus!
- Jesus had problems with his relatives and with his community. From the time when you began to live the Gospel better, has something changed in your relationship with your family, with your relatives?
- Jesus cannot work many miracles in Nazareth because faith is lacking. And today, does he find faith in us, in me?
