WORD ALIVE

There’s a saying that goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” In today’s gospel, this saying applies to Jesus when he returned to his hometown and taught in the synagogue. His town mates could not accept him because he was too familiar to them. 

“How can he claim to be a teacher and prophet when we know his relatives?” they questioned. “Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Where did He get all his knowledge?” (Mk 6,2). 

Sensing his audience’s negative attitude, Jesus said: “No prophet is accepted in his own country” (6,4).  The Scripture relates further, “He could work no miracles there. He was astonished by their lack of faith” (6,6).

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We Christian Filipinos may not reject Jesus outright since we are generally religious, prayerful, and God-fearing.

However, there are instances when we doubt or even lose our faith in God. A friend couple of mine in their 60s some months ago succumbed to the coronavirus one after the other. The children were devastated. One lamented, saying, “I cannot understand why God took away our two parents!” 
When I was vacationing in San Francisco, California, I met a devout Filipina lady who was very active in her parish. Sadly, she was diagnosed with advanced cancer. She could not accept that God would allow it to happen since she devoted her time working in the parish church after office hours. 

Her friends would visit her in the evening and prayed with her. But when the pain became unbearable, she stopped praying and lost her faith altogether.
All I could do was to pray: “Lord, you know very well the pain that caused the loss of her mental and psychological disposition. Lord, please be merciful to her.” 

We reject Christ, too, when we do not follow his teachings especially those that are hard to swallow. For instance, some of us find it hard to forgive and let go of our feelings of hatred and revenge. But Jesus’ command of forgiveness is of great consequence. Listen to this: “If you do not forgive your brother or sister who has wronged you, your Heavenly Father will not forgive you either” (Matt. 6,15).

For officials of the Bureau of Customs, BIR, or politicians, Christ’s teaching on honesty may be very hard to follow. But as good Christians with strong conviction should make them resist the temptation to give in.

Let’s pray for a strong, resilient faith especially in moments when we find Jesus’ teachings hard to swallow.
 

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Thoughts to ponder. Some think there’s no God. But what if there is? Where will you go?

Try Jesus. If you don’t like Him, the devil will always take you back.

You may party in Hell, but you will be the barbeque! 

When praying, don’t give God instructions, just report for duty.
 

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Appeal. A benefactor to our seminarians once said: “My sons have no vocation to the priesthood so I might as well help others become priests.” Very inspiring!    

Seminarians are future priests and missionaries. We cannot have them if we don’t support them. ([email protected])