There was once a professor in theology. On his first day, he asked the students to write down what their idea of Jesus was.

While going over the papers later, the professor was amused by the many curious answers.
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There was one that particularly caught his attention. The student wrote: “Jesus was a great P-R-O F-I-T. He meant “prophet.” It wasn’t surprising because when the teacher checked the course he was taking, it was Business Administration!
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The gospel of this 14th Sunday talks of a “prophet,” a spokesman of God. When Jesus returned to His hometown and taught in the synagogue, His town mates had wrong notion about Him, much like that student in story. “How can He claim to be a teacher and prophet when we know His relatives?” they questioned. “Isn’t He the carpenter’s son? Where did He get all His knowledge?” (Mk 6:2).
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Sensing His audience’s negative attitude, Jesus said: "No prophet is accepted in His own country (6:4). The Scripture relates further, "He could work no miracles there. He was astonished by their lack of faith" (6:6).
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The attitude of Christ's Jewish town mates could be ours, too. We may not reject Jesus outright since Filipinos are generally religious. But there is the danger that we take our religion for granted.

For instance, the Sunday Mass going and prayers can become so routinary and mechanical that we don’t feel their meaning anymore.
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If you want to appreciate God's Word and the Mass, one way is to take extra effort to do so. You must listen, reflect on the readings and strive to apply the lessons in your homes, neighborhood and workplaces.

This is what the Bibliarasal and renewal groups are doing.
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Another lesson of this Sunday’s gospel concerns relationship with one another. Jesus’ town mates could not accept Him because, coming from a humble family, He now claims to be a prophet. “Who does this person think He is?” they remarked. They knew His origin. Remember the old dictum, "Familiarity breeds contempt"?
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Do we tend to take people for granted just because we meet them everyday, say, at home or in the office? Do we recognize their worth and positive qualities or do we see only what's negative in them? How often do we hear about married couples who're so devoted and caring when they’re newly married. But as time goes by, the closeness fades away.
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No wonder, some people joke that when a couple is newly married, the word ASAWA (spouse) is still complete.

But as the years pass, the letters disappear one by one. The A vanishes and what have you? "SAWA," (fed up).
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Then after a couple more years, the S disappears and you have "AWA" (pity), and after some more years, the A fades off; what remains? ‘WA’! (no more) — no more love or worse, no more spouse!
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Strange, but we realize the goodness of family members and relatives only when they're absent or gone. That’s when we extol their qualities as in some necrological services! By the way, some necrological speakers so exaggerate the deceased’s qualities that one would think they’re referring to somebody else.
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The gospel message teaches that we must have faith to transcend the ordinariness of the carpenter’s son from Nazareth. Likewise, we need faith to see beyond the undesirable traits of people we live or work with. It’s not easy but that’s required of every follower of Christ.
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FAMILY TV MASS — is aired by the SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc. on IBC-13 at 9-10 a.m. every Sunday.
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Mass sponsor this Sunday: National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Marilao, Bulacan. Celebrant: Fr. Mario DJ Arenas.

For inquiries and Mass offerings, e-mail: familytvmass@gmail.com.