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Gospel: Mark 6: 1-6
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,
accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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I think we often get caught up in the routine, ordinariness of daily life, so much so that we take the truest form of beauty for granted. We live in a way whereby God becomes invisible. And yet, it’s his desire to be seen.
How often do we ask someone, “How are you?” To which they respond, “It’s good to be seen.” Doesn’t God also want to be seen, acknowledged?
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In today’s Gospel, Jesus returns to his hometown. Word of what he’s doing – and who he might actually be – is spreading. But those who know him best fail to see.
Stuck in their preconceived ideas and ordinary routines, they box Jesus in and reduce him to the stature of an ordinary man. They’re used to living with him, conversing with him, watching him work.
The weight of ordinary time has pulled the wool over their eyes so much so that they take their time with God for granted.
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How often do we do the same? We move so quickly that we begin to take life – and the presence God around us – for granted.
For example, in the “breaking of the bread,” it’s him. In the voice of concern from a friend, it’s him. In the gift of human touch, it’s him.. In a random word of encouragement, it’s him. In the splendor of the sun, the gift of night, the joy of silence, it’s him.
God wants to be seen.
Sometimes it’s a matter of slowing down and seeing. Before the day ends, look around. God is waiting to be seen.
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Image credits: (1) Redbubble (2) Desiring God (3) United in the Word