This week, I came to the realization that it has been 10 years since I moved away from New Mexico to start my formation for the Priesthood. Every time I have had the opportunity to visit home, I’ve always thought about today’s Gospel passage, and I’m always careful to observe the reactions and attitudes of the members of the parish I grew up in. Some are overjoyed to see me. Others will always comment about their memories of me as a young child, as an Altar Server, or of me singing in the choir- the list goes on and on!
I’ve also noticed that there are also some people who have a hard time accepting the fact that I’ve changed, or that my ways of thinking about and relating to the world have changed. Since they “knew me when,” they still expect me to think and act the same way as I did many years ago- and if I don’t, they likely won’t listen!
When this happened to Jesus in the Gospel, we hear that he could do no great deeds of power in Nazareth, because of their unbelief. It’s incredibly sad to me that because the residents of Nazareth put Jesus into a box, and couldn’t see past his humanity, they missed out on truly encountering the Son of God.
Our faith is incarnational, which means that we experience the presence of God in and through the human experiences and interactions that we have each day. This means that God can, and does, speak to us through other people- even those we might not expect. Are there times in our lives where we have failed to hear God speaking to us, simply because we judged the messenger, put them in a box, and refused to listen to them? God, help our hearts be open to encountering you in the world, so that we may truly hear your voice, no matter how you choose to speak to us!
This weekend, I have the privilege of welcoming Kathy Mirhi into the Order of Catechumens during the 11:30 am Mass at St. Angela Merici. Kathy has been a member of our RCIA program for some time now, and her acceptance into the Order of Catechumens gives her a special connection to the Church, and marks an important step in her journey towards Baptism. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to receive instruction in the Faith, and prepares to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.
In Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB