Gospel Reflection - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

        From an outside perspective, we can take a critical view of the people of Nazareth.  Shame on them for doubting Jesus!  They shouldn't have been so quick to turn Him down.  If only they listened to Him!
        But what if we take a look at this event from the inside?  Let’s draw an analogy: how would you feel if your brother or sister took up street preaching and successfully converted thousands?  How would you respond to your cousin if he claimed to have God-given healing abilities?  Would you believe your niece if she started prophesying?          You might respond with some doubt.  This relative, who you’ve known since they were a kid and who has always happened to be completely normal, is suddenly doing something different.  Maybe they’re entering into a realm of the spiritual life that’s just too remote for you to accept.  But what’s really going on here? God is manifesting His Holy Will through your relative (who still happens to be completely normal and human), for the salvation of souls, in a supernatural manner.         Of course, that’s an extreme example.  But our God is so good as to be satisfied with less than extreme!  Often we don’t realize the reality of His presence in our daily-and very normal!-interactions.  With this in mind, we can very much relate Jesus’ brothers and sisters.  How quick are we to look past His presence in our brothers and sisters?  We miss Him in their actions, their words, and their very being…yet by honoring them, we honor Him in whose image they are made!  

Where have you seen Our Lord in your family, friends, and coworkers?  Where have you seen Him in your enemies and in strangers? 

How is He asking to be welcomed into your day?  How is He seeking to conform you into His image?