The Gospel for Friday of the seventeenth week in ordinary time is taken from 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. You in some ways the kingdom of God is too simple, too natural, too within our own reach. It’s not about becoming some spectacular miracle worker or somebody who walks around and heals everyone around them. No, it’s about human beings living out their own destiny, becoming authentically who they are and in that process aligning their wills to God and doing the most natural thing.

Care for people, nurture people, tend to their needs, shepherd them is a beautiful image of something that is within our ability to accomplish. Take a few moments to ponder the thoughts that come to you from this reading and reflection, and then I will close with a prayer. Foreign Closing prayer Father, help us to understand the naturalness of your work within us. Give us the hope that comes from knowing that we’re moving everyone that we love and know into a deeper understanding of who youo Are when we simply will it and want it and desire it. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.