Friday, August 2, 2013 - Be careful of saying, “I know”, you may miss the Messiah.

To read the texts click on the texts: Lev 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37; Mt 13:54-58

The incident of the rejection of Jesus in his home town is found also in Mark 6:1-6. Like Mark, Matthew too leaves Jesus’ home town unnamed. Yet many think that Matthew may have been referring to Nazareth where Jesus grew up (2:23) rather than Capernaum in which Jesus did a lot of his ministry. While the people accepted that Jesus did indeed speak and act with authority, they wondered about the source of this authority. This wonder soon turns to a negative assessment on their part when they take offence at Jesus. 

Matthew {unlike Mark who identifies Jesus as a carpenter (Mk 6:3)} identifies Jesus as the “carpenter’s son” since he is interested in showing Jesus as Son of Joseph and so Son of David. In response to their negative attitude to him, Jesus speaks of himself as a prophet and identifies himself with the true prophets of Israel. In Matthew {unlike in Mark where the failure on the part of Jesus to work miracles is the result of the unbelief of his townspeople (Mk 6:6)} the initiative rests with Jesus and though able, he does not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

We keep expecting people to behave in a particular manner and sometimes when they do not behave as we expect them to, we tend to get upset. This happens even with parents and children. While it is not a problem to have some reasonable expectations, we must also be open to change and realise that they may not always behave as we expect them to.