How am I to find renewed strength in times of trial when, like the prophets before me, I am without honor in my native place, my concerns dismissed as lacking knowledge, even as I remain steadfast in my calling—much like Audrey, our feral barn cat, who chose “The Glenn” on her own accord and persistently waits each day to remind me of my duties—”A prophet is not without honor except in his native place”❓
Gospel
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,
accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this❓
What kind of wisdom has been given him❓
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon❓
And are not his sisters here with us❓”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Lectio Divina Reflection on “prophet“
Each day, I wonder what it truly means to be a prophet by virtue of baptism. The prophets of old spoke truth despite resistance, yet they were often rejected by their own people. When I made accusations of clergy abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral, I was not met with justice but with dismissal, as if my words carried no weight simply because I am not ordained. But does not a prophet speak from the depths of conviction, regardless of title❓
The prophet’s path is never easy. Scripture reminds me that those who challenge the status quo are often ridiculed, silenced, or ignored. Bishop Zurek’s words that I “do not always have all the knowledge” echo in my mind—not as a revelation, but as a way to invalidate my voice. Yet, were not the prophets also told they were unworthy, too bold, too troublesome❓ They did not speak from their own authority, but from an urgency placed upon them by God.
‘I, as a lay person, do not always have all the knowledge’…”
contexts in which the Church is present and finds unity in the one Father, one Lord, and one
Spirit. It challenges all the Baptised, without exception: “The whole People of God is an agent
of the proclamation of the Gospel. Every baptised person is called to be a protagonist of mission
since we are all missionary disciples” (ITC 53). For this reason, the synodal journey directs us
towards a full and visible unity of Christians, as the presence of delegates of other Christian
traditions testifies. Unity ferments within the holy Church of God, prophetically so, for the
entire world.
“…dime’s worth of opinions not necessarily those the Diocese of Amarillo, CAPN- powered…”
Even creation bears witness to the resilience of the prophet. The natural world, which the prophets praised, suffers under human neglect, and those who cry out for its protection are likewise ignored. Still, like a prophet refusing to be silenced, the earth continues to proclaim its truth in the rising of the sun, the changing of the seasons, and the persistence of life in unexpected places.
At “The Glenn,” I find a quiet prophet in Audrey, our feral barn cat. Unlike the animals we brought here, she came on her own accord, choosing this land as her home. Every day at feeding time, she waits outside the back door, steadfast and expectant, reminding me of my duties. She does not need permission to belong—she simply does. Is this not the spirit of a prophet, to remain, to endure, to speak truth whether others acknowledge it or not❓
If even a barn cat can live out her purpose without seeking approval, then why should I expect honor where prophets before me have found none❓ And if the voices of prophets have been silenced throughout history, what makes me think my experience should be any different❓ Am I willing to continue speaking, even when my words fall on deaf ears❓ For truly,…
“‘A prophet is not without honor except in his native place…‘”❓
The writings of the prophets invite us to find renewed strength in times of trial by contemplating the all-powerful God who created the universe.
FROM PARAGRAPH 73 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME