Reflection for Friday August 4, Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest: Matthew 13:54-58

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.

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What is superiority complex? 

When Jesus went back to His hometown He was belittled by His own townmates. They can’t believe that He was speaking and teaching in their synagogue for He was just a carpenter’s son to them. 

They had this feeling of superiority over Jesus but why did they have this feeling of superiority? Perhaps, it was brought about by their status in life, perhaps inside their minds they were telling Jesus, who are you to lecture us in the synagogue when you’re just an ordinary carpenter’s son! 

This is the dilemma of many people who have this mindset of superiority over others. They already close their minds to what others whom they see as lowly can achieve and do. They close their minds because they cannot accept it. That someone whom they used to know as an ordinary person, a carpenter at that could be someone who is now more known and respected than them.    

This is a behavioral problem that we must at all times avoid for everyone of us are created by God as equal. Nobody is above anyone else, our money, our education and status in life don’t give us the license to belittle anyone’s honor and reputation. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas