MYSTERY
A reflection for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr B
Mark 6:1-6
Jesus said to them, ‘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. He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mk 6:4-6)
You could say that today’s readings are about mystery. The mystery that is another human being. Internally, we form our opinions and judgements of other people which are based on the externals of those persons. Judgements are natural but they don’t tell you who the person is. We are so much more than what we sometimes appear to be and to unlock the mystery that is another person, faith and love are essential. Only these will open our hearts to receive the mystery who is another.
No one, not even Jesus, was immune from being judged by others. The people of his village thought they knew him, “Is he not the carpenter?” “Don’t we know his relatives?” He, the Son of God and the Son of Man. He who came to reveal to us the greatness of the mystery that we are. What was needed was vision that went beyond the superficial to the essence of what it is to be a human being. Without openness of heart in faith and love, we miss the mystery of the incarnation, God and the person entwined in the mystery of God’s immense love for us.
Jesus, you who are the Mystery of Faith, God and human, help us to walk our days open to the mystery of your presence in each person, and at the heart of all creation. Help us to receive the mystery of one another in love.