Just for you

He came to his home town and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?’ And they took offence at him. (Matthew 13:54-57a)

Just for you

Our souls cry out to be known that the gifts within us might be shared. So it is not hard to imagine what Jesus felt as he walked away amid the whispers of those who thought they knew him.

Surely, he felt disappointment and frustration when he was dismissed by those in his hometown. But grief may have been the major emotion. He could not give, he could not bless, he could not share the beauty that was in him to lift their lives and ignite their hope.

His very soul was denied. The divine love that filled him could not flow out to engulf their hearts. He came to give a gift of soul and was denied by those who imagined there wasn’t much in him worth having. 

Little did they know that soul was a pearl of immense and surpassing worth. Little could they imagine that opening their hearts and minds to the depth of his being could yield a joy and hope that transcended every suffering and trouble they ever experienced.

Refusing him, they could not enter lives of knowing the immeasurable greatness of divine love.

Different as Jesus is from us, in many ways we are the same—human, born with a soul, each of us bearing unique gifts to be given away. Our daily task is to do as Jesus does—give whatever beauty and grace we find in ourselves, bearing the disappointment and moving on to try again when the gifts we would give are refused.

This is the way that leads to joy in both wonderful and terrible times.

And one more thing: Always open your heart and mind to the next person you meet. You do not know what the Holy One may have placed in their soul just for you.

Pr. David L. Miller