In today's Gospel, we learn about how Jesus taught in the synagogue of his home town and was rejected the people.
Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen
Jesus 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.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH_GZ6Asc0Y (Credit to Catholic Kids Media)
Say: Today’s Gospel raises a question about who knows Jesus best.
Ask: What does Jesus do in his hometown, Nazareth? (He teaches in the synagogue.) How do the people respond to Jesus’ teaching? (Some are astonished; some wonder who this is; some took offense at Jesus’ teaching.) What do some of the people of Nazareth seem to know about Jesus? (They seem to know his family and that Jesus is a carpenter.) You may want to talk about how we understand this Scripture when it talks about Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
Say: The people of Nazareth think they know a lot about Jesus. But they don’t seem to know the most important thing. Many of them don’t have faith in Jesus as the Son of God and question his authority to teach them. Therefore, Jesus cannot perform any miracles there. Jesus is amazed at their lack of faith.
Conclude in prayer together, asking God to give us faith to know who Jesus really is, the Son of God who saves us from sin.
Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
