Sometimes we may think we know someone well that we cannot know them any better. We may even be too familiar with Jesus thinking we know him well and lose the wonder of him. We are called to be like little children trusting, depending on Father God and being in awe at what he does in our lives. There is an old proverb that says ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’. Sometimes our close association with someone can lead to a loss of respect for them. We see this in today’s Gospel proclamation. Those in the synagogue could not accept that the person they knew was capable of such
wisdom and authority. They were perhaps also jealous of the Lord, refusing to accept him as anything other than the carpenter’s son. In prayer today, we may want to ask the Holy Spirit to show us the prejudices we have carried against those we are familiar with. Unknown to us, God may be moving powerfully in their lives and as we begin to accept and honour what God is doing, we also welcome an ‘Open Heaven’ above our lives.

Prayer: Abba Father, help me to accept others in Christ, knowing that they too are loved, accepted and called by you. Amen.