Would it not be true that sometimes we
find ourselves growing so familiar with success that we fail to realize the
hand of God? Would it be an overstatement that we may also find ourselves being
so acquainted with things and persons that we meet everyday than those we
rarely meet and see? Would it be a lie to say that sometimes we are inclined to
respect and honour those who are more politically and economically successful
than others?Would it be false to allude that we find ourselves having the
tendency to discredit people because of their backgrounds?
In the Gospel passage, we find Jesus
with his disciples making a trip to his hometown. And he had the experience of
rejection because they knew him and his background. This is what we may call
the scandals of familiarity and the scandals of background. We must not forget
that this is the same Jesus who was constantly being sought after in the
districts of Capernaum and Gerasenes and who continually withdrew to a lonely
place, sometimes because of the crowd that pressed round him (cf. Mark 1:37,
2:2, 3:7, 5:21). But now in his hometown, there was no crowd that pressed round
him or a crowd that was searching for him. In fact, the first two lines of the
Gospel reading captured this so well. Jesus entered his hometown almost
unnoticed, as it took the Sabbath day for him to be noticed. Here is a scandal
of familiarity playing out. It played out fully when after his preaching; well,
yes, they were firstly amazed, but they did not sustain their amazement as they
asked derogatory questions and finally they would not accept him.
They say that familiarity breeds
contempt. But I think that familiarity can actually breed more love and
affection. Think about how often we come inside the church without reverence
and genuflection. Think about how often we are distracted during worship
because we feel it as monotonous. Think about the few times we are too near
people to see their greatness, or the many times we are too near the Holy Communion
to feel its efficacy.
And by the way, why did they not accept
Jesus? This is because people would always judge your worth based on your
background or your job. Here comes the scandal of backgrounds. They most
probably saw him grow up, saw his mother change his diapers, saw him during the
children liturgy, and saw him playing around in the garden. For all these, they
made conclusions about him based on his backgrounds. This had a consequence.
Their minds were so blocked to see and experience the power of God and the
miracles the Lord had in stock for them. Jesus was amazed at their lack of
faith.
Is it not true that sometimes we expect
our miracles and salvation to come in a package we desire (Just like a boy who
a desired a car key on his birthday from his Father, but got to reject it
because the father gave him the key hidden inside the Bible, only to discover
that the gift of the car came in a different package after the burial of the
father)? Is it not also true that sometimes when this miraculous package comes,
we tend to reject it just because of the channel of arrival? Today becomes a
reminder that familiarity can actually breed love, and not contempt, and that
people’s backgrounds and jobsmost times do not define their efficiency and proficiency.
God uses any one. All we need do is to be ready always. Continue to remain
blessed.Father Peter Ezekoka
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