Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel moves me to reflect upon the domestic church. We find Jesus returning home and receiving a less than warm welcome from his community. Despite acknowledging Jesus’ wisdom and power, the people took offense at him. He observes, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Paraphrasing St Mark, the people’s amazing unbelief formed a barrier to the power of Christ’s ministry. Jesus’ very own domestic church did not embrace him, at least not fully. I find in today’s Gospel an invitation to reflect upon our own domestic churches and to pray for the domestic church around the world.
A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house. Have you experienced rejection within your own domestic church when you attempt to share God’s Word, impart some teaching, lead others in prayer, or engage in shared spiritual disciplines? If so, you’re not alone. In my family, I’ve been “odd man out” at times, have experienced ridicule from certain family members about my faith, and have felt the sting of rejection by some of the ones closest to me. I imagine we’ve all been the “prophet without honor” at one time or another. Today, let us reflect upon the dynamics at work in our family systems and ask the Lord to reveal to us what we need to know about our witness. Jesus, help us to adjust our attitudes, demeanor, approaches, words, actions, in order to be transformative witnesses to your love in our homes. Loving Lord, mold our hearts to make them more like yours, let our family members see nothing but you and your love when they encounter us today. Free us from anything that would put up a barrier to your Gospel and your love, O Love Divine.
St. Pope John Paul II closes his 1999 encyclical, The Church in America, with a beautiful prayer for the domestic church. You can find it here (scroll to the very end of the text). I encourage you to pray it as part of your prayer today. The Diocese of Austin (Texas) has proclaimed the current liturgical year as the Year of the Domestic Church. Their prayer is, may the love found in our domestic church transform our society. Here, you can find a very brief interview with their bishop. I commend it to your prayerful reflection, as well. Let us join Bishop Vásquez in his prayer for the domestic church: Loving God and Father, bless all families especially those who are struggling and suffering. May individuals find comfort and love in their family. May all families reflect the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and live united in respect and love. We ask all these good things through Christ Our Lord. Amen and amen!
Elizabeth Wourms