SEEING YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL : Mark 6:1-6
Jesus, The Carpenter’s Son
Personal prejudices and agendas can block us from listening to what another person has to say. Who do they think they are? Perhaps you have experienced this. What difference has it made to you when you were able to focus on the content of what was being said and leave to one side your own prejudices about the speaker?
It has been said that there is nothing as useless as the right advice at the wrong time. We may want to reach out to another but may be unable to because at that moment the other person is not ready to be helped. Like Jesus we can ‘do no deed of power’. As Jesus had to be patient and wait for another opportunity, so do we. What have you learned about the importance of patience in working with others?
Religion easily brings up prejudices. Some dismiss religion as superstition, old hat, or based on an outdated world view. Even among believers, prejudice can make it hard for individuals to listen to an alternative way of looking at things, to consider a different way of celebrating liturgy, or to live at peace with difference. Yet a closed mind can lead to a stagnant faith. When have you found that a willingness to consider a different perspective led to a deepening and strengthening of your faith?
John Byrne osa, Intercom June 2024
