Gospel (Mt 13:54-58)

Coming to his own country Jesus taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?”

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Commentary

Jesus returns to his own town, to Nazareth. The place of his childhood and youth, where he learned the craft of an artisan from Joseph.

It is also the place of faith, in the home of Mary and Joseph. The place where the Word became flesh, thanks to a woman with deep trust in God’s plans and a man who dared to dream God's dreams.

And it is also the place of disbelief. Jesus returns to his hometown and encounters men and women who refuse to open the door of their hearts to his redemptive work. They remain stuck in a narrow, earthbound view, unable to see the Son of God in Jesus’ face.

The people acknowledge with amazement the wonders Jesus has worked. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?” they exclaim. But at the same time, they reduce Jesus to their own narrow horizons: he is the son of Joseph and Mary, one of ours, our fellow townsman.

They refuse to accept that Jesus is the Son of God, the prophet who speaks in God’s name.

In a way, the same thing can also happen to us. We need to discover our own true identity in the midst of our ordinary, daily lives: we are children of God, called to speak in God’s name.

Our family relationships, our work, our qualities and talents, our friendships, are not enough to explain who we are. We need to raise our eyes to a higher dimension, to live in this world as who we truly are: God’s children.

In our family, in our daily jobs and tasks, in our friendships, wherever we live, we are called to speak in God's name, and to make present to others Christ’s look and voice.

We are more than what meets the eye. We are a wonderful work of God. In our lives, all the love with which God has created us shines forth, when we say Yes to his will every day.