Gospel Reading: 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.
THE CARPENTER’S SON
When Jesus starts his mission in Galilee, around the lake towns like Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Magdala, great crowds follow him, astonished as they are by his teaching authority and his power to heal. People ask, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?” The same astonishment strikes the people of Nazareth when the fame of Jesus spreads throughout the region. This astonishment, however, does not lead to trust and appreciation of Jesus. True enough, when Jesus returns to his native place and teaches in the synagogue, they ask, “Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary?” They cannot imagine how a person of lowly background can rise above his rank. This rather sad incident invites us to consider where the greatness of Joseph of Nazareth—a carpenter—lies. It is found in his low estate—like Mary’s. But just as the Lord looks upon his handmaid’s lowliness (cf Lk 1:48), so the Lord looks upon Joseph’s—and lifts him up. Joseph is given the grace and task to act as legal father and guardian of God’s own beloved Son, to protect the Mother and the Son from dangers, and to provide for them from his labors as tekton (carpenter, artisan). The humble work of Joseph and Jesus in Nazareth has certainly ennobled human labor by which a person earns his or her “daily bread” and dignity as a human being.
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Are you particularly devoted to St. Joseph? Why?
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
