GOD'S PROPHETS IN AN UNBELIEVING WORLD

"A PROPHET IS NOT WITHOUT HONOR
EXCEPT IN HIS NATIVE PLACE"

Today we are reminded that God continues to care for all human beings, including those who reject Him and wander far away in their moral life. Some of the clearest signs of His caring love are the prophets that He sends to His people to remind them of their duties and to make them understand the great harm they cause to others and themselves through their misbehavior.

Jesus, the greatest of all prophets, experienced the bitter taste of rejection and warned His disciples that they, too, would be treated in the same way. Far from discouraging us, this should bring us to do our best to be faithful to our prophetic mission in the Church and in society, following the example of Jesus himself. In this Eucharist, let us ask for the grace to do just this, no matter what the cost.

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 Joses 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.


Euchalette, 5 July 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City, Philippines