On God's Side

Aug 2: Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel reading, some of Jesus’ old neighbors say, “Is not his mother named Mary?” Like she’s no big deal.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Most Holy, Queen of Heaven, Theotokos? Yeah, that’s His mom. This is the Catholic view—

And here’s the protestant understanding of Mary—

Jesus is the son of Mary. We shouldn’t be like the people of Nazareth, but instead recognize His presence among us not despite being Mary’s son; rather, her perfection should be a sign that Jesus is who He says He is.

Reading 1

Jer 26:1-9

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this message came from the LORD:

Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD; whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing. Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds.

Say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you disobey me, not living according to the law I placed before you and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them, I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city to which all the nations of the earth shall refer when cursing another.

Now the priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD. When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD bade him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, "You must be put to death! Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD: 'This house shall be like Shiloh,' and 'This city shall be desolate and deserted'?"

And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

Shiloh was a sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. When the priests grew corrupt, God allowed the Philistines to destroy the city and capture ark.¹ So for Jeremiah to say God will treat them like Shiloh, that’s quite a harsh statement to ancient Israelites. No wonder they don’t accept his prophesy!

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 69:5, 8-10, 14

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Those outnumber the hairs of my head
who hate me without cause.
Too many for my strength
are they who wrongfully are my enemies.
Must I restore what I did not steal?
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Since for your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

The Psalmist is beset with enemies on all sides, including someone falsely accusing him of theft. But why? Just like Jeremiah, the people are after him because of his zeal for God.

Sometimes, following God puts us at odds with the world. Rather than appealing to the world, we should be like the Psalmist and appeal to God for help.

Alleluia

1 Pt 1:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever;
this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

That’s why we read it at every mass!

Gospel

Mt 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?"

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house."

And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

We don’t always see the blessings in our lives, even when they’re right in front of us. Just because we’ve known someone since they were a child, doesn’t mean we know how they fit in God’s plan.

1. Which remained lost until 1936.