Monday of the Third Week of Lent
In the Gospel passage today, the people of Nazareth become furious with Jesus because of his exhortation to them. They were so blinded by pride and their pre-existing perceptions of Jesus that they could not abide by his message. They could not accept correction from the son of a local carpenter. They were not willing to adopt a stance of humility and receptivity. They were not able to step back from their prideful self-importance and preconceptions and consder the wisdom of Jesus’ words. They were not able to consider that perhaps God was giving them something new and important, albeit from an unexpected source.
It can be difficult for us to hear the things we need to hear sometimes, particularly when they come from challenging or unexpected sources. But are we willing to look at ourselves with honest eyes and see ourselves as we really are? Are we willing to recognize the finite bounds of our knowledge and experience and admit how much we really do not know? Especially during this purifying season of Lent, are we willing to be receptive to the new things that God is trying to teach us?