“A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” When we are faced with someone like Jesus, someone with a generous heart, a wide vision and a great spirit, our reactions are very often filled with jealousy, selfishness, and meanness of spirit. His own people couldn’t recognize the holiness of Jesus because they had never really accepted their own. They couldn’t honor his relationship with God because they had never explored their own sense of belonging to the Lord. They couldn’t see the Messiah standing right beside them, because he looked too much like one of them. Until we see ourselves as people beloved of God, miracles will be scarce and the prophets and messengers who rise among us will struggle to be heard and accepted for whom they truly are.

The gospel warns us to be on guard against certain attitudes that are incompatible with the example of Jesus: the human tendency to be possessive and egoistic and small in mind and heart.

Let us pray that Jesus not be amazed at our own unbelief, but rather rejoice in our small, daily acts of fidelity to him and our service to our brothers and sisters. May the Lord grant us magnanimous hearts so that we may look far beyond ourselves and recognize the goodness, greatness, and beauty of other people, instead of being jealous of their gifts. God’s power alone can save us from emptiness and hopelessness.

• Thought for the week: When we accept our problems as an inevitable part of life, when we look at them as potential teachers, it’s as if a weight has been lifted off our shoulders.
• Smile for the week: There was a man who entered a pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did. 

God bless! Have a wonderful week!