The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Gerry Paat SVD – SVD Postulancy, Tagaytay City
Friday 17th Week in Ordinary Time
Narrow-mindedness is a violation against the human capacity to grow and improve. I recall a classmate in the college seminary who was often ridiculed for his inability to keep up with lessons. One teacher even declared him “hopeless.” Yet years later, I met him again—this time as a successful bank manager, full of joy and confidence.
It dawned on me that our teacher was wrong. Every person has the capacity to grow and improve. To deny this is to underestimate the power of the Spirit at work in each of us. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
In today’s Gospel, the townspeople of Jesus fell into the same temptation. They remained imprisoned in their old image of Him as the son of Mary and Joseph. They failed to recognize His growth and transformation. As a consequence, “Jesus did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith” (Matthew 13:58).
Their narrow-mindedness blinded them to the presence of God in their midst.
We are no different from the townspeople of Jesus. Too often, we imprison others in their past mistakes, refusing to see their potential for growth. The Gospel challenges us to liberate people from our biases and narrow judgments. “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24).
Let us ask the Lord to open our eyes and minds, so that we may see others as God sees them—capable of growth, transformation, and holiness. May we encourage rather than ridicule, affirm rather than dismiss, and believe in the Spirit’s power to make all things new. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
