HOMILY FROM CANON STEPHEN BAILLIE
14th Sunday of B21
This is the Carpenter, Surely?
In the Gospel we hear – ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country among his own relations and in his own house.’ We might find ourselves sympathising with Jesus in today’s Gospel: no matter what a person achieves in life, in their own home place they will always be identified with their childhood selves and their family. While this generates a sense of belonging, it can be stifling. There is always someone to ensure we don’t get ideas ‘above our station’!
Returning home to Nazareth, Jesus teaches in the synagogue but his former neighbours turn on him. Who does he think he is, this carpenter, the son of Mary? This could have been a moment of grace, if they were open to hearing what he had to say. Perhaps the implications of the Good News were just too changeling coming from one of their own.
As we pray on these last few days leading up to Deacon Joe’s ordination, to his priesthood, I am often reminded by Meister Eckhart (1260-1328), that ‘grace is never a stationary thing, it is always found in a becoming’. May Deacon Joe continue to bring God’s Word alive through his words and actions.
Sometimes God’s Word comes in an unexpected package. As individuals and communities, we can be guilty of silencing certain voices. Do we listen to young people with their energy and idealism, or the elderly with their experience and wisdom? Are we biased against certain groups in society, do we shoot them down before they speak? When our hearts are open, we come to recognise the prophets who are bringing the dream of God to fruition among us.
May God bless you – your family and friends in the days ahead.
