“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son?” (Mt 13:54-55).

Many people wonder what Jesus did from the age of twelve until he began his ministry around the age of thirty. Today’s reading gives us some insight into that question. Most likely, Jesus did nothing out of the ordinary realm of any other first century Palestinian Jew living in the small town of Nazareth, with a population of about 250 to 500 people.

Jesus most likely worked as a carpenter. This was rough, menial work, and a position that was looked down upon. We can even see evidence of this in the Gospel accounts. Mark describes Jesus as the carpenter, the son of Mary, Matthew portrays Jesus as the carpenter’s son, and Luke and John just refer to Jesus as Joseph’s son, leaving out all reference to carpenter altogether. Most scripture scholars believe Mark was written first, so we can see a progression in the biblical tradition moving quickly away from identifying Jesus as a carpenter.

Jesus’ return to his hometown and his teaching was first met with wonder, where did he get such wisdom and how did he work such mighty deeds? But wonder soon turned to judgment. Who is he? He is just the carpenter of Nazareth, no better than any of us. In effect, “Who does he think he is?” Not only does this show that Jesus probably lived a very simple peasant life, but that Jesus’ social status was set in stone.

The people’s hearts and minds were closed to Jesus, THEY KNEW who he was and there was no way someone like him could do what they had heard, so they “took offense at him… And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith” (Mt 13:57-58).

How many times have we judged someone, saying to ourselves, I know who he or she is. We box them in, not as they are, but as WE see them. We look at another individual not as a person with dignity, but as a two-dimensional cut out character to satisfy our own prejudices. We also do this to ourselves, chaining ourselves, limiting our potential by saying I can’t do this or that.

Jesus rebukes these limiting perspectives. Instead he seeks to do mighty deeds in our lives and so invites us to open our minds and hearts to rest in the depths of our soul where we can touch the love and power of the Holy Spirit, repent from our judgmental and prejudicial dispositions, so to be healed from the finite limitations of our brokenness and sin. Let us resist the temptation to limit Jesus, others, and ourselves.

May we instead accept the invitation of our loving God and Father to embrace the infinite possibilities that will arise when we participate in his Life and Love. This invitation is for each and every one of us, no matter our race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religious, political, economic, social, immigrant, or migrant status. Let us accept the invitation of the Holy Spirit who seeks to free us from the shackles that bind us, the limitations imposed upon us, and those we impose on ourselves and others. May we follow Jesus the carpenter who calls us to conform our life to his, so that we will actualize who he encourages us to be, and better be able to empower others in our realm of influence to do the same.

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Picture credit: Darrel Tank/GoodSalt.com used with permission

Mass Readings for today, Friday, August 4, 2017:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080417.cfm

Parallel Gospel accounts: Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55, Luke 4:22, and John 6:42