Containing the Holy

Gospel
Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

This same sentiment/scandal over the complete ordinariness of Jesus appears in all four gospel in some form. It connects well with the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. The Jesuit motto that sticks with me is Find God in All Things.  Jesus' home-town folks can't imagine a world where the holy can get so particular and ordinary; the son of a carpenter no less.

They took offense. They were scandalized. This indicates to me that the notion of what is holy, wise, and of God, is something they were very certain they understood. The prerequisite to having a God in All Things attitude  is an openness to a God of surprises. I'll listen today for that certainty that binds up the expansiveness of what is holy and full of grace. I'll try to be a bit more Jesuit this day.

St Ignatius of Loyola, pray for me!