Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. — Psalm 32:(see 5) 

Mass Readings: 2 Samuel 24:2,9-17 / Mark 6:1-6 

Accepting Jesus Again 

The expression “familiarity breeds contempt” has many applications. Not only can close association with a person or a routine bring “contempt,” but more readily a sense of complacency, mistrust, or abandonment. We see family and friends and do certain things so frequently, we lose appreciation for them. Jesus was well known by His hometown crowd in Nazareth and thus the wonderful things He did and said had little impact on them. And so He laments that He has been rejected by those who knew Him best. 

The sad reality is that we’re often as guilty as those who heard Jesus in the synagogue. His influence can be easy to ignore. Maybe, as a new month begins, we need to reinvigorate our love for and attention to Jesus and cast off our complacent attitudes. 

Prayer: Jesus, let me fall in love with You each day of my life.