A Prophet in His Own Land

When a baby comes into the family, we wonder about the possibilities. What will this little one do when he grows up? What great thing might she accomplish? She might be president. He might be a priest. What if she discovers the cure for cancer? Maybe he will be another Lionel Richie or Tiger Woods or Albert Einstein.

Anything is possible.

Until he actually is old enough to do these things. Why is it that we can imagine the possibilities when they are small, but once they are fully grown, we stop expecting great things? We sometimes stop believing that God is still at work. Nothing is set in stone. We forget that St. Monica's son was a real mess-up - once upon a time.

And then, he became a great Saint (Augustine).

St. Monica isn't like the people in today's Gospel reading. She believed God could do anything - even in the life of her own son.

Look around you. Look closely at your children. Your grandchildren. Your siblings. It is possible that there is a priest or prophet or king among them. The possibilities don't end when babies grow up. That's when God is just getting started.

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." Mark 6:4