July 2015 – Page 2 – Catholic Commission for Social Justice

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 Joses 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.

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

Today’s Gospel reading (Mark 6:1-6) gives us much food for thought. Jesus returned to his own home town in Nazareth and was “amazed at the lack of faith” among the people. They would not accept him. Was it because they remembered him as being a carpenter and the son of a carpenter? Jesus’ words ring true for many: “A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house.”
Would Jesus find faith in T&T? Jesus knocks on the doors of our hearts daily. Do we open the door and welcome Him because we, His disciples, embrace His teachings and act on them to build His Kingdom here on earth? Even if you find yourself preaching the Good News in a hostile environment, just do it – for Jesus’ sake. Evangelisation involves setting a good example by the way in which we live our lives, so that others may wish to emulate us.