Daily Reflection for Friday, July 31, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/073120.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Jeremiah 26:1-9
Responsorial: Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14
Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house. Matthew 13:58
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." As a teenager, I heard this as a comeback from my friend to his siblings, and sometimes as a comeback to his father's criticisms. Even in our house, where my mother forbade us to disparage anyone, teasing was rampant. We knew each other too well and yet not well enough, which led us to pigeonhole each other.
To know the peculiarities of our siblings, or friends, or neighbors, is not knowing their real selves. So it was with Jesus and the people of Nazareth. They knew his earthly parents, his cousins, and where he grew up. They did not see him as Christ and missed the opportunity to experience God's healing grace and blessings.
My contemplation questions for today are:
- Is my lack of faith blocking me from fully experiencing the healing love of Jesus Christ?
- Am I seeing others as Christ sees them?
Love and Blessings,
Deacon John McShea