Can You Handle The Truth?

14th Ordinary Sunday

Today’s homily began with Friar Mike pointing out the contrast between last Sunday’s Gospel and today’s: then (Mark 5: 21-43), Jesus encountered two persons whose faith led to two miraculous cures; today (Mark 6: 1-6), he is amazed at the lack of faith among the people of his own home town.

The Gospel then tells us that the people “were scandalized” by Jesus’ preaching, sneeringly referring to him as “the carpenter” (Mark 6: 2-3). Friar Mike suggested that they reacted this way because they felt that Jesus ought to “know his place”, and that what he preached was probably uncomfortable for them to hear.

This must have been hard for Jesus, but he recognises that “a prophet is not without honour, except in his native place, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6: 4) – that a true prophet (which we often forget Jesus was) must tell God’s message, even if he faced opposition or contempt.

Do you remember when someone last criticized you or

told you the truth about yourself?

Did you not want to know or remember what the person told you?

Did you just brush that person aside and ignore what he said?

I believe many of us do this because the truth hurts. Like the people of Jesus’ home town, most of us do not want to accept the harsh truths about ourselves. We are stuck in our own notions of self-righteousness, worried that the truth will cause our “image” to crumble and expose what’s “bad” about us.

But it is only through embracing such tough truths that we learn and grow to become more like God each day. There is no point in hiding our own shameful truths – God already knows. But listening to His word helps us to turn to him for our redemption.

So, if someone well-meaning (e.g. a family member, your best friend) points out a behaviour or attitude that needs changing, don’t criticise that person and don’t be afraid to admit your flaw. Instead, lift all these shortcomings up to God and ask for the grace to repent, change, and become a better person.