Appreciating The Giftedness Of Others

Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

July 30, 2021

Readings (Click here to read in full)
    Reading I:   Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37
    Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab
    Gospel:   Mt 13:54-58

Word Count: 305

Reading speed

    Slow (100 wpm): 3 minutes

    Average (130 wpm): 2.3 minutes

    Fast (160 wpm): 1.9 minutes

When we rejoice in the gifts God gives to others, we are opening our hearts to receive gifts as well.

The people of Nazareth failed to rejoice and accept who Jesus had become. They heard so much about what Jesus did in other places, but they failed to recognize anything extraordinary about the Jesus they grew up with. Before Jesus started his ministry, they knew him so well; his family, his abilities and education. Now, they were surprised at what Jesus could do. They said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?" Were they jealous of him? Jesus had become way better than any of them. They could perhaps ask themselves, why him and not us? As they had no knowledge of the mysteries that surrounded the birth of Jesus, they were shocked and took offence at Him. They looked down on Him in unbelief.

If only they accepted Jesus and rejoiced in His abilities, they could have opened their hearts to receive the wisdom Jesus could have imparted to them and experienced the wonders He could have done as He did to others. The Gospel ended by stating, "And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith."

Like the townsfolk of Jesus, at times, we too can become envious of others who have received so many blessings in life. We feel that they are more favored than us, that God has blessed them more than us. And because of this, we have become bitter towards them. We refuse to accept them as they are. Since we are envious, we fail to see how God has blessed us as well. Our Gospel today reminds us that we can only experience and receive the grace of God if we appreciate and rejoice in the blessings God bestows on others.

Fr. Joel R. Lasutaz, SSS

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