The peace of the Lord be with you. How many times in our lives do we miss, overlook, and/or get desensitized to the wonderful people, places, and things that surround us? I know this happens in my life far too often. Some of this has to do with how how our nervous system functions, but more often, it has to do with forgetting where all that surrounds us comes from. I find that when I can slow down and take time to realize that all good things come from God, then I can also expect the miraculous to be present in the so called common occurrences of daily life.
In our Gospel reading today, the people who had watched Jesus grow up could not appreciate who was standing in their midst. He was just the kid next door, the son of Joseph and Mary. By viewing our lives with the eyes of faith — with the eyes that are looking for the unseen order — we are more likely to see God in our midst. This how we come to appreciate how our lives are woven into an interconnected tapestry of love which which extends beyond the bounds of time and space. We are one in Him. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.