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| Illustration by
Phil Younk |
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Remember last week Jesus returned to Nazareth, his hometown, and read from the Scriptures in the synagogue? This Sunday’s Gospel continues with what happened next.
After Jesus had spoken, the people talked about him and were excited about his preaching. They had heard about the miracles he performed in other places. They also kept asking, “Isn’t he the son of Joseph the carpenter?”
The Bible translates the Greek word tekton as carpenter to describe the work done by Joseph and Jesus. A tekton was a skilled worker who used many tools and materials, including stone and wood. Houses in Nazareth had stone or mud-brick walls. Wood was used for roof beams, door frames, and doors.
Joseph and Jesus probably did all of the building and handyman work in Nazareth because at Jesus’ time the population of Nazareth numbered 120 to 150 people. There were no power tools. The wood pieces and stone blocks were cut and shaped with hand tools. So Jesus helped Joseph cut beams and wrestle stone blocks into place. Because of this hard work, Jesus must have been a strong, rugged man with well-developed muscles.
As he preached, Jesus called people to change their sinful ways, to be open to God’s forgiveness and love, and to share that love and goodness with others.
Because Jesus looked so much like his neighbors and worked among them as a carpenter, because he did not fit into their idea of a powerful Messiah, and because Jesus told them the Good News is for all people and not just for the Jews, the people of Nazareth got angry and wanted to push him off a cliff.
No hometown welcome or faith. Jesus was amazed and saddened at the people’s lack of faith in Nazareth. He then left Nazareth and spent time teaching in the neighboring villages.
We welcome Jesus by listening to his word at Mass, by receiving him into our hearts in holy Communion, by seeing him in the love of family and others around us, and by seeing him in all of creation.
Each day as we say the Apostles Creed or each time we say the Nicene Creed at Mass, we are saying, “Jesus, we believe in you.” Jesus, help our faith to grow.
(Couture is a catechist at St. Aloysius Parish, West Allis.)
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