And Jesus said to them, “Prophets are despised only in their own country, among their relatives, and in their own family.“ And he could work no miracles there, but only healed a few sick people, by laying his hands on them. Jesus himself was astounded at their unbelief.

REFLECTION:
      The bitterest pill
    Our first reading opens with a very challenging question: “Have you already shed your blood in the struggle against sin?“ This challenging question comes as a conclusion to the author’s parade of the witnesses of the Faith throughout history beginning with Abraham down to Jesus and the martyrs of the apostolic times. Up to our own time the challenge remains the same.
     Even Jesus was tested. Severely! Jesus, otherwise popular and well accepted in Galilee, found himself unwelcome in his own hometown! His rejection at Nazareth, amongst family and friends was perhaps, for Jesus, the bitterest pill to swallow!
     Sometimes, the greatest oppo­sitionists to our efforts to live the Christian life can be those of our own family. I am reminded of a young boy of 10 whom I found crying one afternoon. I asked him why he was crying. He said that he was beaten by his father. “Did you perhaps do something naughty?“ I asked. “No“ he said. “I just told my dad that it was not right for him to make bets in jueteng because gambling is a sin. So he beat me!“ I was before a boy who “almost“ shed blood in his struggle against sin!