Gospel: Mark 6:1-6
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.
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Reflection:
A successful man who
died was being given lavish praises by his relatives and friends during his
eulogy. Lavish praises that he richly deserved for he was a good and humble
man. Lavish praises that they purposely did not tell him while he was still
alive for they envied him.
When Jesus went back
to the place where he grew up in Nazareth. He went to their Synagogue to give a
lecture and He did it with wisdom and eloquence. Yet Jesus did not receive any
congratulatory acknowledgement not even a simple handshake. Or a gesture
of recognition from his former town mates.
Instead Jesus
received from them derision and scorn. Because they could not accept that a
former carpenter could speak to them with so much wisdom and eloquence. A former
carpenter whom they knew very well could someday speak in their house of
worship. So they belittled Jesus instead
of giving Him a well-deserved recognition.
Don’t we also act
often times like the town mates of Jesus? We are very quick to judge and
belittle our fellowmen and even our relatives who achieved a certain degree of
success in their lives.
Why are we very quick to belittle? Why are we very quick to give unjust judgment? This is
because of our very high regard of ourselves, perhaps this is brought about by
our riches, education and status in life.
We place ourselves
in a pedestal so high that we cannot anymore bend our knees in humility. We
cannot anymore recognize worthy achievement because our eyes are already
clouded with the cataract of our egos and high self-image.
If we are quick to
draw judgment and scorn we also open ourselves to the same judgment and scorn. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
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