Monday March 9, 2026

Luke 4:24-30

Jesus came to Nazara and spoke to the people in the synagogue: ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

Have you ever heard the saying “Go where you are celebrated not tolerated?” Our Lord finds out today for the people of Nazara, he will always be the carpenter’s son. That alone will blind them of anything and everything good he does. I read years ago that a carpenter in ancient near east was a shade above the slave and widow in their social status. Their zip code had a terrible stigma. Now I know that these stigmas don’t come out of a vacuum. Probably the zip code had some questionable characters. This is an invitation to accept people as they are and not let prejudice make us miss out on the gifts that others bring.

Did you know that they treated the Lord so bad that he could not perform any miracles there? He left!! He went where he was celebrated and he took his accent, his upbringing, his lessons into other lands. He did not become someone else, he was always from Nazareth and that is what others loved about him.

Today do not let what others think about you determine your happiness. Remember “those who are with you are more than those who are against you.” It is a big world this one.