It is a truth that we enjoy the unique beauty of our nature. When the weather is fine, we go for a walk. Such walks give us very good impressions of the nature.
Some times we see beautiful flowers, growing among other weeds and plants and wonder on their beauty. We appreciate and consider its growth in such an atmosphere positive and seldom criticize the weeds and other plants nearby.
Yes, we are often generous in such matters, because we have a good and generous heart.
But many a times this tolerance and generosity towards our nature and other living beings are not shown to a human being, to our neighbour. We criticize them in their weakness early and faster; we come to some conclusions without realizing the real background of these people…
The Gospel of this Sunday gives us such a narration, mixed with both positive and negative remarks.
It happens in the home town of Jesus.
The first part is ok. We hear that Jesus teaches in the Synagogue and people wonders on his wisdom.
But then comes the real issue.
The people in the home town of Jesus were seeing only the son of a carpenter in Jesus. Yes, they fail here. The openness with which they astonished on his teachings is missing in this part. They are rigid in their prejudice that, the son of a carpenter must remain a carpenter only. He is not supposed to be a prophet…
Here they are producing the contra effect of the proclamation.
They take offence in the teaching, rather than believing in him.
(Jesus’ proclamation was also not that fruitful. Even he couldn’t convince his own people.)
But they are deliberately forgetting their history: many of the great figures in their history were born and lived a normal. Moses had an unsafe and bad childhood; David the great king was a simple shepherd.
Take the case of any other personalities in the Old testament such as Jeremiah, Gideon…they were not having some glorious childhood or youth. Their lives after their call made them great.
Jesus was a carpenter. He cannot change that. He also was proud to be a worker.
But his works were not only of a carpenter.
The people around him had enough testimonials to believe in the extra ordinary power of Jesus.
But sadly, these are not leading them to faith, but to a painful rejection.
But it is a loss for them alone. Then they miss the wonders of Jesus.
And the Gospel narrates nothing more positive about them. Nazareth gets glory and fame, not because they believed in Jesus, but only by the presence of Jesus.
The experience of Jesus narrated in the Gospel is a message for our life in the present time:
It teaches, accepting the goodness of others is a great gift.
We must be able to see the good qualities and sides of others.
We have to promote the goodness more than their demerits.
This will increase our human relations positively.
This will help us to trust one another.
Yes, this is one of the many great Keys to the future world in peace.
Rejection of these may cause a big loss in our life.
The great feeling of God, goodness, friendship and healing will be strange to us.
Let us cultivate the new culture of trusting others. Let us promote and encourage the goodness in others. Let the world be filled with peace and friendship and all the more be blessed with the presence of the Goodness of our God. God bless us all. Amen!--
Fr Thomas Kalathil
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