The narrative about the rejection of Jesus in his own hometown is a lesson for those who share in the mission of evangelization. All Christians are baptized so as to share in the prophetic office of Christ. All therefore are to live as witnesses of the Lord and proclaimers of the Good News to their own families and in the neighborhood where they live. The work is difficult, however, especially since the prophet is honored "except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." Read this article and use the following for your guide.
1. "A prophet is honored except in his family, in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house (Mark 6:4)." Jesus said this not as a condemnation of his townmates but as a lesson to be learned by thhe disciples whom he is going to send out next (see Mark 6:7-13). Evangelization is difficult precisely because when one evangelizes, one extends the work of Jesus and undergoes the same rejection that he experienced. But such a difficulty does not excuse one from doing the work he/she was baptized to do.
Reflect. Have you experienced the difficulty of a prophet who is not honored in his own family or in his own hometown? Under what circumstances?
When we were baptized, we began to share in the prophetic office of Christ. The work of a prophet is related to the Truth in that it is his office to make it possible for the covenanted people of God to live according to His Word whether by admonition, instruction or exhortation. It is for this reason that for the Catholic, the exercise of the prophetic office includes witnessing to Christ and teaching the faith to others.
Reflect. There are many Catholics who think that silent witnessing is enough. But what they think is "silent witnessing" is a convenient way for avoiding the more difficult duties of Christian profession: that of expressing to others one's convictions regarding Christ, salvation and the life of those who have been saved. Are you among those who shirk this responsibility? How have you been expressing your convictions about the faith, your baptism and the hope that you have in eternal life?
3. In Evangelii Nuntiandi, Paul VI explains that there are three stages in Christian witnessing: silent witnessing, verbal witnessing, and forming other witnesses. One knows that one has begun to complete these three stages when those with whom one has spoken about the faith, themselves begin to give witness to others. Those who have received the sacrament of confirmation have become professional witnesses, that is, they are the ones who are expected to be witnesses according to those three stages. Thus, parents are supposed to teach their children the Church's life of faith beginning from the two-fold commandment of love (see the Baptismal Rite for Infants) and confirmed teen-agers themselves can already work as catechists for their age group.
Reflect. What have you contributed -- not counting the money you sometimes give to the offertory box -- to making your community of faith effective witnesses in your neighborhood? How have you given witness to the faith in your own family?
