~~~ Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola ~~~
~~~ Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34B-37 ~~~ Psalm 81 ~~~
~~~ Matthew 13:54-58 ~~~
Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
If you are honest, who do you find yourself criticizing the most?
Is it not those you know the best?
It is much easier to criticize what you know
than what is foreign or unfamiliar.
Jesus had returned to his home town.
These people knew who he was.
They knew his father and mother.
They knew the family business in which he had apprenticed.
None of what they knew about Jesus gave him
any authority to speak of such holy topics.
None of what they knew about Jesus gave him any more
insight into scripture than the temple high priest.
So why should they listen to him?
You may have found yourself in a similar situation.
Even if you are trying to give a family member
information for their benefit they are resistant.
They ask who you think you are
trying to tell them what they should be doing.
They do not want to believe you.
In most cases you will stop sharing with these people.
You come to realize that whatever you say will just be dismissed.
Jesus finds himself in the exact situation.
He was doing the will of the Father,
but even that did not protect him from criticism and rejection.
...he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.
Jesus does not try to argue with those who were critical,
those who rejected him.
Jesus simply does not work
any more miracles among them.
Jesus basically had to control himself ;
his natural instinct was to teach
and heal as many people as possible.
Jesus never forces faith upon anyone...not even those he loves.
Jesus may have been excited when he began to teach
in the synagogue where he grew up,
but this was replaced with criticism.
His extended family would have the chance
to come and hear teach in their official place of worship.
His mother and father could come listen tho their son.
It would have brought them great joy.
This open rejection of Jesus hurt them too.
The next time you catch yourself criticizing pause for a moment...
ask yourself, Why am I critical of this person.
The better you know someone the easier it is to be critical of them.
Jesus criticized their lack of faith.
But was it really a criticism or was he pointing out the truth?
The people of his town were resistant
to listening to who they thought they knew.
He was one of them.
Why was he speaking in such a radical way?
They wanted Jesus to be just like them.
Jesus came to bring about change...big change.
Jesus came to turn the old beliefs into something better.
Are you stuck with the old?
Are you quick to criticize those you know best?
Are you being criticized by those who know you best?
We are Blessed to have Jesus who understands...
he has been criticized by those in his own hometown.
Saint Ignatius, pray for us.
"Act as if everything depended on you; trust
as if everything depended on God."
~~~Peace~~~
