The incident of the rejection of Jesus at Nazareth comes after the Sermon on the Mount and provides a contrast to it.

Whereas the crowds were in admiring astonishment at Jesus’ teaching (Mt 7:28), here astonishment takes the form of offense.

Matthew mollifies a bit his Markan source: Jesus is referred to as “the carpenter’s son” instead of as the carpenter, and Matthew omits “and among his own kin” (Mk 6:1-6).

But the offense remains, and in the face of the people’s lack of faith Jesus does not work many mighty deeds.

Familiarity with Jesus’ background and family leads Jesus’ townsmen to regard him as pretentious.

Maybe they share other people’s low estimation of their own town: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46).

For the inhabitants of Nazareth, God is too great to lower himself to talk through a carpenter who has not studied, unlike the teachers of the Law.

This, ultimately, is the scandal of the incarnation. God over turns human pretentions.

In the final times, God spoke to us through his Son (Heb 1:2) who chose to humble himself, to be born among ordinary folks, and to be close to people in the margins.

Gospel

• Matthew 13:54-58

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? Is he not the carpenter’s son?

Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?”

And 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.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.