IS THIS NOT THE SON OF JOSEPH

IS THIS NOT THE SON OF JOSEPH? 
My Sunday Reflection from, Luke 4:21-30

"Is this not the son of Joseph?" blurted the Jews upon hearing the grace and wisdom coming from the mouth of our Lord as he spoke in the synagogue of the Jews. One laudable situation in the Pharisaic religion of Jesus' time was the democracy of the synagogue where men of wisdom and age are allowed to speak in front of the community. However it was sad to say that the Jews of Jesus' time could not believe that a carpenter's son without formal training could exude such wisdom and grace, as to touch the hearers and to speak with such authority. But unfortunately, their bias for him was evident in the way he was treated by them. Let me offer two points for reflection from today's gospel:

[1] Simeon the prophet at the Presentation of Our Lord said, that this child (Jesus) would be the cause of the rise and fall of many in Israel. Indeed as St. Paul reiterated in his letters to the Romans that the unbelief of the Jews was beneficial for the Gentiles. Because this unbelief paved the way for the gospel message to be preached among the gentiles until the end of the ages. God has chosen the Kingdom of Israel to be his nation, a chosen nation, a chosen race. The prototype of God's coming Kingdom. This was central to the belief of the Hebrews. If this kind of belief shall prevail, that they were the chosen race, it would be utterly impossible for the gospel to be preached to the whole world. Thus the Christian Church which started as a community of believers among the Jews began to be preached among the Gentiles. For this reason, St. Paul said, that with the unbelief of the Jews both in the Land of Israel and the diaspora, he was forced to go to the Gentiles which readily accepted the saving message of God, through His Son Jesus Christ. But St. Paul said, that this unbelief among the Jews is not forever, there will be a time when the Lord shall visit His chosen people and redeem his own. Thus we as Christians cannot brag about our faith, and we should never say that the Jews were abandoned by God. They are still the chosen ones, as St. Paul said, they are our elder brothers in the faith, for it was to them that the covenant was first given. And we are recipients of that benefit for as the Scriptures said, the blessings shall come from Israel that will guide and save the Gentiles. Jesus is that gift. The Son of David, from Bethlehem, a true Israelite, and a Son of God.

[2] The second point I would like to speak about is on the practical side. As individual persons we are also beset by the weakness as the Jews of Christ time. The judgmental attitude that we have at times hinders our relationship with God. How many times we fail to see the potentiality in our neighbors to be good. We only dwell on the mundane and we see only the faults of our neighbors. But we do not see the potentials to be good and above all we fail to realize and recognize the immense capability of God to work in the lives of our neighbors as well as ourselves. We want to be accepted, like anyone else, but we are not ready to accept others. Let us pray that we should have that grace to look positively on our neighbors. To recognize the "good" in them. For our maker the Lord Almighty is good and merciful so likewise we who bear his image are destined to be like him. Let us pray for that grace.

Short Prayer: Lord Almighty Father, make us more like you and help us to recognize the good in our neighbors. Love covers a multitude of sins, so fill our hearts with the same love that you have, so that we may love others as we love ourselves. Bless us Lord, our families, our communities and our nation. This we ask in the name of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. + In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen