Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and
Judas his brothers? Aren’t all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?” And so they
took offense at him.
Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and
in their own family.” And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Reflect
Today’s Gospel is an example of the tall poppy syndrome. The people of Jesus question Jesus’
teaching and ministry. After knowing Jesus and his family for years, they just didn’t believe that
he was anything special.
The reaction of the people of Nazareth is not unfamiliar. We often respond the same way when
people we know well are raised to places of authority or who became famous or receive some
reward. We have a tendency to cut down anyone who tends to rise above the pack. Why do we
have such trouble feeling and expressing joy for someone else’s success? Why do we struggle
respecting the authority of someone who is familiar? Why do we fail to welcome the prophets
from our hometowns? Too often our minds are clouded by sin. Doubt, fear, envy, and feelings
of inferiority keep us from receiving others as they are and sharing both their good and bad
fortune. By casting out fear with love, we can create a world of welcome and peace.
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