GOSPEL POWER | JULY 4, 2021 | SUNDAY | 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mk 6: 1 – 6

Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.

Reflection

The way we look at reality and relate with everything will  reveal the kind of God we believe in. Is our God capable  of surprising us? Is our God free to make unpredictable  moves? Or is our God cut to the size that can be conveniently fitted  into the box of our own desires and expectations? The townspeople  of Nazareth cannot accept God’s new way of acting in and through  the person of Jesus, their local carpenter. Their preconceived notion  of God does not allow for that kind of surprise. They are suspicious  of the unexpected manifestation of wisdom and power in someone of  a lowly background, someone they presume to know and be familiar  with. Their God is imprisoned in their prejudices. By their lack of  faith, they silence the Messianic revelation and block Jesus from  exercising his divine power.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, let not our inadequate and, perhaps, distorted vision of God  prevent you from acting powerfully in our life. Amen