The Parish Priest of Our Lady of Good Shepherd – Rushoroza Cathedral in Kabale District, Rev Fr Austen Christmas has asked Christians to reflect deeply on the importance of faith, humility, and openness to God’s work in their daily lives, warning that familiarity, prejudice, and lack of belief can prevent people from experiencing divine grace.
Delivering his homily at the cathedral during the celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and labor on Friday, Rev Fr Christmas drew lessons from the biblical account of Jesus’ visit to Nazareth, where He was rejected by people who knew Him from childhood.
He noted that the same people who had watched Jesus grow up as the “carpenter’s son” struggled to accept His divine mission, showing how familiarity can sometimes blind people to God’s presence and power.
He cautioned that when people become too familiar with their surroundings or the individuals among them, they may easily overlook extraordinary grace working through ordinary lives. According to him, this mindset often limits spiritual growth and prevents communities from recognizing God’s interventions in their midst.
Rev Fr Christmas also highlighted the danger of prejudice and fixed assumptions, saying that preconceived ideas about people or even about God can close hearts to truth. He explained that the people of Nazareth failed to witness the miracles Jesus performed elsewhere because they had already made up their minds about Him.
He further emphasized that lack of faith can become a barrier to receiving blessings, noting that Jesus performed few miracles in Nazareth because of the people’s unbelief. He encouraged Christians to nurture strong faith, stressing that openness to God is key to experiencing His grace.
Quoting the scripture, he reminded the congregation that prophets are often not honored in their own hometowns, adding that those closest to us may sometimes struggle to recognize God’s hand at work due to familiarity, envy, or pride.
He asked Christians to remain alert to the presence of God in ordinary situations and people, saying that the divine often works through simple and unexpected channels in everyday life. He warned that offense, pride, and closed hearts can block spiritual understanding, even when truth is clearly presented.
CUE IN REV FR CHRISTMAS…..ON THE CHRISTIANS…..RR//
