.
but others said,
‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? …
So the people could not agree about him…
see for yourself:
prophets do not come out of Galilee.’ John 7
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I’m in Dunedin today for a reflection day with the Little Sisters of the Poor.
It’s a coincidence that I was also with the Sisters (in Sydney) on this day last year and in my homily with them reflecting on this gospel reading I told the following story:
There was a monastery of monks who began to experience tension in their community. They prayed about their difficulty, and each monk met with the Abbot in effort to resolve the difficulties. Finally, when all their efforts seemed to bear no fruit the Abbot consulted the holy hermit who lived over the hill inviting him to live at the monastery for a few days to see if he could pinpoint the problem.
When the time came for the holy hermit to leave the monastery he met with the Abbot to present his findings.
“So”, asked the Abbot, “what advice have you to offer us”?
The holy hermit looked directly at the Abbot and confidently replied: “the Messiah is living in your monastery.”
Later in the day the Abbot met with the monks of the community. “What did the holy man say?” the monks asked their Abbot. “What was his advice?”
“The wise man said that the Messiah is living in our monastery” reported the Abbot. “He says that one of us is the Messiah.”
The monks were stunned. How could Jesus be living among them? Which one of their number was Jesus?
Was it Brother Alfred, maybe Brother Ignatius, or Brother Stan?
Over the next few days and into the future, every moment and in every word, thought and action, the monks lived with a deep sensitivity to the possibility that the monk who was annoying them was Jesus, and very quickly their community was transformed. Every tension evaporated quickly. Love became their way.
Perhaps our problem in our communities is that we don’t believe that Jesus is actually alive and present, among us, in our friends, enemies, families, workmates, and even in the strangers we encounter on the street or at the supermarket.
“Prophets do not come out of Galilee!” Ah, no, Prophets are everywhere. Jesus Christ is everywhere and in everyone.
Perhaps it’s easy to believe in a Messiah as long as he lived far away and long ago, a God who dwells in distant heavens and who doesn’t interrupt my life with divine love and mercy, constantly nudging me towards abundant life?
A Christian appreciates that Jesus risen is present today, here and now, where I am.
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Take an initiative and initiate a cafe gathering, or join these gatherings:
Email me to add another: john@fff.org.nz
Excellent reflection today,a perfect reminder for me
Thankyou Father
Thank you for the reminder.