05.02.25 Iman vs. Logika: Dilema Orang-orang Nazaret dalam Menanggapi Yesus

Wednesday 4th week in ordinary time "Mk 6:1-6"

He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offence at him. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. "Where did this man get all this?" they wondered. This happened in Nazareth, Jesus' hometown. It happened among His people, those who saw Him growing up. They couldn't make head nor tail of it. A carpenter is supposed to be a carpenter all his life, not a Rabbi. The Gospel says that "they took offence at him." Why? There is no need to be offended just because they don't understand! But it happens sometimes. You find some 'learned' people who think that anyone who doesn't think as they do are not just wrong, but ignorant. Some think that religion is not just difficult to believe, but nonsense. Some are convinced that, just because they haven't found the truth, truth doesn't exist at all. They are like children who, just because a Maths problem is difficult to solve, claim that the formula is wrong and the problem has no solution. A university student was seated on a train beside an old person praying the Rosary. "Sir", interrupted the student, "do you still believe in gods and prayers?" "Yes, I do" replied the man with a smile. "Do you not?" The student burst out laughing and said, "I do not believe in such silly things. Take my advice: Learn what science has to say about religion." "Science?", asked the old man in distress, "What Science?" The student saw the man's grief and to avoid hurting his feelings further, said, "Please give me your address and I will send you some literature to help you on the matter." The old fellow fumbled inside his coat pocket and gave the boy his visiting card. Glancing at the card, the student bowed his head in shame and became silent. On the card he read: 'Louis Pasteur, Director of the Institute of Scientific Research, Paris' - the most famous French scientist of 19th century, discoverer of rabies and anthrax vaccines. He is popularly known as the father of microbiology so, not really ignorant, was he? Mary, Seat of Wisdom, may I grow in this gift of the Holy Spirit.