First reading Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15
God is training you as his sons
In the fight against sin, you have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death.
Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.
Always be wanting peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one can ever see the Lord. Be careful that no one is deprived of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness should begin to grow and make trouble; this can poison a whole community.
Responsorial Psalm 102(103):1-2,13-14,17-18
The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.
As a father has compassion on his sons,
the Lord has pity on those who fear him;
for he knows of what we are made,
he remembers that we are dust.
But the love of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold him in fear;
his justice reaches out to children’s children
when they keep his covenant in truth.
Gospel Mark 6:1-6
‘A prophet is only despised in his own country’
Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
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May I recognise your presence, Jesus
Jesus was doing good by healing the sick, teaching in the synagogues, etc. However, instead of recognising that God was working in Him and through Him, the people of Nazareth refused to accept Him because they knew Jesus and His family. He was too ordinary for them, and thus, they rejected Him. Their lack of faith prevented Jesus from working miracles among them.
As we pray with this gospel passage, let us listen to Jesus speaking to us as He invites us to see His presence in the ordinary and the familiar with eyes of faith. When we have eyes of faith to perceive His presence in the normal routines of life, the ordinary encounters and those most familiar to us, we give Jesus space to work in us and through us. Jesus will never force us to welcome Him but waits for us to open our eyes to see, our ears to hear and our hearts to receive Him.
Reflective question:
What prevents me from perceiving Jesus’ presence and living this day with Him?
What prevents me from perceiving Jesus’ presence and living this day with Him?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
