The Rejection at Nazareth

Today's Reflections

 

The Rejection at Nazareth

Mt 13:54-58

⁵⁴[Jesus] came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? ⁵⁵Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” ⁵⁷And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” ⁵⁸And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house. We have heard it said, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Jesus gets a taste of this upon his return to his hometown. The people who have seen him grow up in Joseph and Mary’s household could not believe what they are hearing as he teaches in the synagogue. They could not get past the image in their minds of an apprentice-son learning his carpenter-father’s craft. They think they know him well, even his virtues and his faults, the latter outnumbering the former in their view. Where then, they ask each other, does he get all this?

Jesus comes to bring salvation to his people. But their lack of faith keeps him from working many mighty deeds in his native place. The Gospel tells us that miracles happen in faith. And what is faith? It goes beyond belief in the existence of God. It is the certainty that God cares for us and guides and directs our lives. The people of Nazareth see and hear Jesus, but fail to experience the divine presence in him.

Only with faith can we say,

“I will pray to you, Lord, at a favorable time.

God, in your abundant kindness,

answer me with your sure deliverance” (Ps 69:14).