IS HE NOT THE CARPENTER'S SON?

Mt 13:54-58

The readings of today present to us the rejection of God’s messengers. In the first reading, Jeremiah admonishes the people and warns them of divine retribution if they do not reform their evil ways. In reaction, the priests and some of the people want to put him to death. In the Gospel, Jesus goes to his hometown and preaches to the people there, but they are skeptical of him. They reject him.

They did not understand Jesus’ attitude: "Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” The Jesus, son of that place, whom they knew since he was a child, how is that now he is so different? The people of Nazareth were scandalized and did not accept him: “This is the carpenter’s son, surely? They did not accept the mystery of God present in a common man as they are, as they had known Jesus. In order to speak about God he should be different. Who is he now to teach the scribes and Pharisees, the inner and exclusive club of learned people? Who is he?

A teacher had a peculiar habit of bowing to his pupils at the start of the class. The principal had noticed this habit and one day, he asked him why. The teacher said, “Sir, in each of these children resides so much potential. You never know if one of them would one day become the president of this country!”

Unfortunately, not all of us have such a positive outlook on the dignity of each person. Jesus Himself was put in a category box and had to suffer for it. They knew His parents and relatives. So he had to be put back into His proper place. But again, did they really know Jesus? if they did, as St. Peter said in his post-Pentecost homily, they would not have killed Him.

The reason why they reject Jesus is very funny:  It is because He is so close to them as their neighbor. He is a mere layman. His family is there; they remember Him as Joseph’s kid or maybe as a baby conceived illegitimately. Their memories of His youthful immaturities distracted them from seeing His true identity as the Savior of the world. They forget that every person, indeed, has the capacity to grow and improve.

The town mates of Jesus, in our gospel reading today, were still imprisoned within their old image of Jesus as a son of ordinary parents, Mary and Joseph. They failed to recognize that every person is capable for growth and transformation. Bias and prejudice closed the mind and heart of the Jews to the teachings and testimony of Jesus.

The attitude of the town mates of Jesus is in our world today. Even today, it is not easy to see Jesus in our brothers and sisters, especially in those who we know well. People do not like to be told that they are sinners. They do not like to admit that they are wrong. They do not like the idea of being helpless and guilty and in need of forgiveness. And so, in order to escape the guilt and avoid dealing with their sin, they attack the person who is calling them to conversion. If you are a Christian living according to the truth of Scripture, then you can expect unbelievers to find fault with you -- especially those who are the most familiar with you. Like Jesus, we are to continue taking the truth of the kingdom of heaven forward no matter how personal and painful the rejection might be.

Why are some people so unwilling to listen to the voice of God's servants? Why are they more willing to listen to the devil, disguised in those who promise them earthly pleasures, success, fame, and wealth? The way to perdition is a wide road and many take it. This world is a godless society where very few people talk about God, about self-denial, about being charitable, about being honest and upright.

What is our perception of Jesus? What is our attitude towards Him? Do we have some biases against Him? We may be thinking that following Jesus means getting out the fun of living. We want to enjoy life. So we reject Jesus saying that His teaching is obsolete and not responsive to the needs of this generation. We may be overwhelmed by the harshness of life and are looking for a god who will solve for us the mystery of evil. So we reject Jesus by convincing ourselves and others that Christianity is but an opium of the people. We may see His teaching on hard work and honesty as an onerous burden in our desire to get rich in a quick and easy way. So we dismiss the teachings of Jesus as anti-poor. We must ask ourselves what are our own biases, prejudices, cope-outs, hangouts, and emotional baggage that account for our being blind and deaf to His words. The gospel is challenging us to liberate ourselves from biases and narrow-mindedness. Let us ask the Lord to open our eyes and minds.