Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 13: 54-58
August 01, 2025 | Friday

Today’s Gospel

He went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren’t all his sisters living here? Where did he get all these things?” And so they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is his hometown and in his own family.” And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Today’s Reflection

There are seasonal festivals to be observed by the people of Israel to remember God’s intervention in their lives. It is an important annual celebration and highlights the agricultural foundation festival. The observance of these celebrations will take time to see the reason, and we are caught in the cycle of the season, forgetting the radical root of these festivals. If something new has been introduced and not within the domain of our usual and customary routine, we question it. Just like the people in the Gospel of today, for they have been within their customary practices and way of doing things for God only reveals to his prophets, although He reveals in the ordinariness of everyday living. The question: “Is he not a Carpenter’s Son? Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?” reflects only the condition wherein we are actually situated; we are looking, but we do not notice, unconsciously rejecting others because “I know you.” The unhealthy prejudices we carry as items of baggage cloud our minds to look in “different eyes” other people. We need to look at Jesus’ ministry in the same way. Although memories of great festivals and traditions are important, that should not hinder us from seeing the innovations and the dynamics of our faith and seeing them from a different and new color. Faith should be seen as evolving, growing, and transforming us. Otherwise, we hinder the movements of the Spirit and His truth in every moment of our lives.

/Vulnerasti, 2025