Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr Dominic’s Homily

Jesus had been home for a few days and as was the family tradition attended synagogue on the Sabbath. It was not permitted for just anyone to teach. You have to have had some training.

Normally a trainee Rabbi would be an apprentice of a well known and respected Rabbi. However Jesus was recognized as competent and allowed to speak for a few minutes.

The people in the synagogue were amazed at Jesus teaching. They all thought they knew who he was. What he said appeared to them to have genuine insight; it would have been clear and straight forward, honest and open. Those who listened did so with their hearts and were open to Jesus words. Yet many still didn’t accept him.

They had clearly heard about his ministry, it would have been impossible to not have heard of him even from 30 miles away. Remember there was no internet, television, radio, or newspapers. News travels fast in any human culture no matter what the technology.

As a repairman and carpenter Jesus would have spent most his time repairing furniture and buildings. Jesus of course is actually the ultimate repair man – putting the universe back together after it was damaged by sin. He repairs us physically, psychologically and spiritually.

Calling him Mary’s son is a polite way of questioning his parentage. Even if Joseph had died by this time (which was quite possible) he should still have been known as Joseph’s son.

The message here is that Jesus is illegitimate - a cause of shame in the 1st century. It is just being used to bolster their argument that they shouldn’t take any notice of his teaching and wisdom.

His brothers and sisters are mentioned. This doesn’t mean that Jesus actually had any blood brothers and sisters. It is referring to all his cousins and extended family. Mary herself, of course had no other children than Jesus. There is no evidence of it in the bible.

Jesus says: A prophet is never accepted in his home town.

This phrase or something like it can be traced back about another 200 years from Jesus time. So he is picking up on a well known phrase to express his frustration.

There are many theories about why Jesus could not perform his usual miracles in his home town. We must be careful to remember that Jesus was both Man and God.

God’s power can’t be somehow be limited by peoples lack of faith. If that were the case God would not be able to do anything in this world because there are so few now that have any strong Faith.

Neither should we think that for some reason Jesus refused to heal them because of their lack of faith. That was not how Jesus operated. He wouldn’t come to his home town and then decide that the people there do not have enough faith, and so refuse to heal them. He was always compassionate.

The most likely explanation is that their lack of faith meant that there were only a very few people who were actually prepared to approach Jesus and ask him for healing. If you don’t believe that someone can heal you, why would you go to them and ask them to?

And we have to ask – that way he knows that it’s what we want, and we have shown our faith. God created us with free will, He will not suddenly just override our free will in order to make us better.

Jesus was amazed by their lack of faith. I think this is the only time when it is recorded that Jesus was amazed. Their lack of faith was so remarkable and complete, that even Jesus was taken aback.

Next year is jubilee year of Hope proclaimed by Pope. Holy doors in Cathedral and here in Glastonbury. Hope belongs to same family as love, prayer, discernment, forgiveness. Always more of a choice than a feeling.

Jesus is the fulfilment of all our hopes and desires. His Spirit brings grace, truth, and freedom. Let us always listen to his words with an open heart and recognise that he is truly the Son of the Living God.