My Life is a Native place of Jesus – What is my response

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

17^th Week – Thursday

Gospel – Matthew 13: 54-58

My Life is a Native place of Jesus – What is my response?

 *Only admiring someone is useless*

 *Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?*

 *1) The positive side of the above expression*

• This expression shows that some one is admiring the extraordinary power of some one 
• This expression also draws the attention of the another because of the greatness of the person 
• This expression also shows that the person is great and has a special charism 
• This expression also creates a kind of suspense and arouses a kind of curiosity to know the person and his capacity 

 *2) The negative side of this expression*

• In a negative level to belittle a person this expression can be used 
• The express the feeling that the person is not fit for such wisdom and power 
• It can also be used as a expression to show that, even if the person wise and powerful, we are not going to accept him and his ability
• It can also be used as an expression to bring down the name and dignity of the person and to show that to have such a wisdom and power by such person is nothing. Its an ordinary thing

 *3) Native People had a negative outlook towards Jesus*

• This is very clear from their expressions 
• Is he not the carpenter’s son? Not even the name of the father is mentioned. They simply said "Carpenters" to humiliate him
• Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? This is to show that he comes from an ordinary Family
• Are not his sisters all with us? To express that they do not have an extraordinary place and position. 
• So the above expressions show that they had very negative outlook towards Jesus

 *4) Is he not the carpenter’s son?*

•  Not even mention of His Fathers name 
•  To express the highest amount of Humiliation to Jesus
•  To express that Jesus is nothing and he is an ordinary carpenter's son 

*5) Mere admiration of the person is useless*

• Among the crowd there must have been some people who admired Jesus for His wisdom and extraordinary power. But their admiration was only at the peripheral level. Thier admiration had no depth 
• The very fact that Jesus could not perform any miracles there because of their lack of faith, clearly shows that, their admiration had no depth at all. 
• When the admiration has no depth it does not touch us in any way and it does not change us in any way. 

*6) My life is the native place of Jesus. What is my response?*

• My life and my whole being is the native place of Jesus. If so what is my response? 
• Will I say "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?" in a negative way or in a positive way 
• Will I say that he is a carpenters Son, where neither Jesus' or Josephs name is found 
• Will I see Jesus only at the level of family people who are ordinary and simple people. From there will I conclude that he is an ordinary man 
• Will Jesus find difficult to perform any miracles in my native place/my life because of my lack of faith and negative thoughts 
• Will I only admire and forget everything? 
• What will happen to Jesus in my life 

 *7) Miracles happen in our life the way we accept Jesus*

• Accept Jesus as Martha accepted
• Accept Jesus as Zacchaues  accepted 
• Accept Jesus as the lepers accepted Jesus 
• All of them saw a great miracle in thier life
• Will I be able to see miracle in my life?

 God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore