"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." (Mark 6: 1 - 6).
Where did the son of Mary, the village carpenter get all this learning?
"Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary." (Mark 6: 3).
Wednesday 31 January 2024 in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St John Bosco (1815 - 1888), Italian Priest.
John Bosco is called the "Apostle of Youth." He was a great educator and father to the young. He founded the Salesian School to educate boys and girls.
St John Bosco is the patron saint of apprentices, young people and Catholic publishers and editors.
Let us consider for a moment how the home crowd see their homeboy, Jesus:
#1 Of course, he is the son of Mary, now a widow.
#2 He is the carpenter, the small business man with little success.
#3 The young man who refused to leave home and establish a family after his age group had become parents of grown children.
#4 The handsome young man who had no fiancee or girlfriend.
“Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!" (Mark 6: 2).
The town's people were astonished that after less than a year Jesus disappeared from their town, he returned as a superstar.
But they could not reconcile themselves to this new reality. And 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.” (Mark 6: 4).
God promises that he who is in Christ is a New Creation. (2 Corinthians 5: 17). St Irenaeus, a second century Church Father said that "The handsome man/woman is the glory of God."
Jesus came to make us beautiful but many reject Him. Whatever you do, never allow familiarity to breed contempt.
"So he [Jesus] was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them." (Mark 6: 5).
Very sad. What a missed opportunity!
“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.... " (Blessed Henry Suso - 1290 to 1365).
For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1
No comments:
Post a Comment
23-Psalm1to2