Recently I prayed for a mother of a terminally ill child. I recalled my experience — how dark and imprisoning hopelessness can be. It isolates and consumes. In my quest for divine intervention, what kept me captive in despair was my understanding of how God should heal my son. I had a fixed idea of what his intervention should look like, and when it did not happen as I expected, my faith wavered. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus’ hometown missed out on his blessings because they were blinded by preconceived ideas. Their expectations prevented them from receiving his grace. If we are to receive his grace, we must let go of what we think we know and surrender our need for control. True surrender is allowing the Lord to free us from what holds us captive. The world still offers no hope for my son, yet he lives by God’s grace. Jesus takes the reins, and I am free despite my chains. As St. Paul tells the Thessalonians, let us encourage one another to live in hope.

PRAYER: Abba Father, give me wisdom to let go of my flawed understanding. Amen.