Trong một bài bình luận về Chúa Giêsu, thánh Gioan Kim Khẩu nói: “Dân làng Nazareth đã lấy làm khâm phục Ngài, nhưng sự ngưỡng mộ của họ không đi đến mức độ là tin vào Ngài hay đúng hơn, họ cảm như thấy ghen tị với Chúa Giêsu, như thể có nghĩa là:" Tại sao là anh ta, mà không phải là tôi”. Chúa Giêsu biết rất rõ những người này, thay vì nghe lời Chúa thì họ lại xúc phạm đến Ngài. Họ là những người thân, là bạn bè của Ngài, là hàng xóm láng giềng mà Ngài đã cảm mến, nhưng đúng ra, họ là những người mà Ngài sẽ không thể nào đem tin mừng cứu độ của Ngài đến với họ được..
Chúng ta không thể làm được phép lạ hay có thể có sự lành thánh như Chúa Kitô vì Ngài không bao giờ có đầu óc hay suy nghĩ về sự ganh tị, tuy nhiên trong một lúc nào đó, nếu chúng ta thực sự cố gắng sống đời sống Kitô hữu một cách chân chính, thì chúng ta thực sự có thể làm được. Tuy nhiên, những gì đến có thể sẽ đến, là chúng ta thường sẽ thấy là những người mà chúng ta yêu thương nhất lại là những người không bao giờ quan tâm hay muốn lắng nghe lời chúng ta. Để ứng hiệu điều này, chúng ta cũng phải nên nhớ rằng những thiếu sót thường được phát hiện rất dễ dàng hơn là những nhân đức tốt và, theo đó, những người gần gũi với chúng ta có thể tự hỏi:” những điều anh đang muốn dạy khôn cho tôi, thì anh nên phải thực hành những điều đó trước đi?”
Trong bình luận thánh Gioan Kim Khẩu nói thêm: “Hãy nhìn vào lòng tốt của Thầy: Ngài đã không trừng phạt họ vì không nghe lời Ngài, nhưng Ngài nói với họ một cách ngọt ngào: "Tiên tri có bị khinh, thì chỉ có ở nơi quê quán và nơi nhà mình thôi!" Mt 13:57). Đây là điều hiển nhiên, Chúa Giêsu có chút buồn bã nhưng dù sao Ngài vẫn tiến hành và tiếp tục đem lời Tin Mừng của Ngài đến với mọi người, cũng như Chúa Giêsu như vậy, chúng ta cũng sẽ phải biết tiếp tục rao giảng và đem Lời Chúa Giêsu đến với những người mà chúng ta yêu thương nhất là những người không muốn nghe chúng ta bằng tất cả sự yêu thương, và bằng sự tha thứ.
In a commentary about Jesus, St. John Chrysostom says: «The villagers of Nazareth do admire him, but their admiration does not go to the point of believing in him but, rather, of feeling envious, as if meaning: ‘Why him and not I’». Jesus knew quite well those who, instead of listening to him, took offense at him. They were his relatives, friends, neighbors He appreciated, but precisely to whom He will not be able to let them have his message of salvation.
We —that cannot work out miracles or have Christ's saintliness— will not incite envies (though, at times, if we are really trying to live as true Christians, we may actually do). However, come what may, we shall often find that those we love the most are those who could not care less about listening to us. To this effect, we must also bear in mind that shortcomings are easier to spot than virtues and, accordingly, those closer to us may wonder: —What are you trying to teach me, who used to do (or still does) this or that?
To preach or speak about God with our own people or family may be difficult but necessary. It must be said that when He was going back home, Jesus was preceded by his miracles and his word. Maybe, in our case, we may need a certain reputation for saintliness, whether at home or away, before “preaching” to those at home.
In his previous comment St. John Chrysostom adds: «Please look at the Master's kindness: He does not punish them for not listening to him but He tells them sweetly: ‘The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family’» (Mt 13:57)».
It is evident Jesus would leave somewhat sadly but nonetheless He would proceed with his preaching until his word of salvation would be welcome by his own people. Likewise, we (that have nothing to forgive or oversee) will have to preach so that Jesus' word reaches those that we love but do not want to listen to us.
Today’s Gospel goes on to say that the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth took offense at Him, which led Jesus to say, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” It is somewhat surprising that they took offense at Jesus after witnessing His wisdom and mighty deeds. Jesus was very familiar to the townspeople, and it seems that that familiarity led them to doubt that Jesus was someone special.
It should be noted that, in many ways, the people who knew Jesus for many years should have been the first people to see His greatness. And most likely there were some from His hometown who did. They would have known Jesus’ mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and she would have given daily witness to incredible virtues. They would have known Joseph as a truly righteous and just man. And Jesus would have exuded every human virtue to perfection as He grew. And again, that should have been easily noticeable. But many failed to see the holiness of Jesus and the Holy Family.
This experience of our Lord should remind us that it is easy to miss the presence of God all around us. If those who were closest to Jesus did not recognize Him as a man of exceptional virtue and holiness, then how much more might we fail to see the presence of God in the lives of those we encounter every day? For some reason, perhaps because of our struggles with pride and anger, it is easier to look at the faults of another than at their virtues. It’s easy to be critical of them and to dwell upon their perceived weaknesses and sins. But this Gospel story should encourage us to do all we can to look beyond the surface and to see God present in every life we encounter.
On the most fundamental level, God dwells within each and every person He has created. Even those who remain in a state of persistent mortal sin are still made in the image of God and reflect God by their very nature. And we must see this. And those who are in a state of grace carry the presence of God, not only within themselves by nature but also through God’s action in their lives. Every virtue that every person has is there because God is at work in them. And we must work to see this divine activity in their lives.
Begin by thinking about the people with whom you are closest. When you think about them, what comes to mind? Over the years, we can build habits of dwelling upon others’ faults. And those habits are hard to break. But they can only be broken by intentionally seeking out the presence of God in their lives. As noted, if Jesus’ own townspeople had a difficult time doing this with Him Who was perfect, then this should tell us that it will be even harder for us to do with those who lack perfection. But it must be done and is a very holy endeavor.
Reflect, today, upon the important mission you have been given to see the presence of God in the lives of those all around you. What if Jesus had grown up in your town? As your neighbor? And though the Incarnate Son of God does not live next door as He did in Nazareth, He does live in each and every person you encounter every day. Honestly reflect upon how well you see Him and commit yourself to the holy mission of seeing Him more clearly so that you can rejoice in His greatness which is truly manifest all around you.
My Lord of true greatness, You are truly present all around me. You are alive and living in the lives of those whom I encounter every day. Please give me the eyes of faith to see You and a heart that loves You. Help me to overlook the faults and weaknesses of others. Jesus, I trust in You.
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