“‘A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.’  So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.” (MK 6: 4-5)

Maybe because we think that we know better and we think that we know what we can expect, “a prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” And because we look at the “prophet,” remembering his limits, so we are far away from being amazed and from being curious; we have lost our child-like openness. “So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there.” Fortunately for us, Our Lord never offends, and whenever we are open, He can always help us. 

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.’ Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.” (MK 5: 27-29) 

She was desperate to find a cure for her affliction. She spent years looking for it, and nothing happened. But “she had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.” She believed that “if I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” We also have heard about Jesus, probably from the beginning of our lives. We also can bring to Him all our wounds, diseases and infirmities, believing that we will be cured. 

“Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day.” (2 SAM 16: 11-12)

In many difficult situations, especially when we are persecuted by someone, we can fight for ourselves or use it as an opportunity to accept it, expecting that “perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day,” like David did. It is better to leave to Him the defense. 

“A great prophet et has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” (1 COR 7: 32-34) 

 I am afraid that we are, generally speaking, out of the standards of St. Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians. Today’s generation is more about how my spouse may please me. After our Programs couples came back to the original question: how may I please my spouse; what can I do for my spouse; how can I better understand my spouse, etc. This is the way in which marriage was created. Let’s keep up the standards. 

“The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light; on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’” (MK 4: 37-40)

Our Lord cares. All His life shows how much He cares. He came to remind us that we are beloved children of God and that we are unconditionally loved, and He will do everything to keep us safe in His love. We always need to know and believe that:

“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.”

“I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.” (2 TM 1: 3-5) 

This is one of the most beautiful ways we can be united. I know this from my own experience (and probably for many of you), traveling so much, being so often out of my home and knowing what it means—“I yearn to see you again.” Prayer helps us to be close, to remember each other and be united in Our Lord, Who is the One Who unites us in Him. 

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.” (ACTS 22: 14-16)

This is our vocation—“be His witness before all,” not because we are special (St. Paul when chosen wasn’t really a good person) but because He chose us. It is always more about Him than about us. 

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy…” (MK 4: 14-16)

We are sown. We are in many conditions. He never stops sowing even knowing that we are not in the best condition. He always expects the best from us. And if we are lost, He will come again. And His word can help us. 

“The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“‘Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.’ But he said to them in reply, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” (MK 3: 32-35) 

We are loved from the begging of the world, before we were created, but already longed for. When He mentioned: “whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother,” Our Lord also mentioned us. He wants us to be with Him so close, in a family relationship. We are always part of His family to Him. 

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself,  that house will not be able to stand.” (MK 3: 24-25) 

How much we suffer when we are in conflict. How much more we suffer when we are living in a divided house, when a husband and wife don’t speak, when siblings are fighting with each other or children ignore their parents. We need to invite Our Lord to our houses Who will bring “life to light through the Gospel.” In Him we can unite again. 

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)