(LifeSiteNews) — Jesus came to His native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is He not the carpenter’s son? Is not His Mother named Mary and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not His sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And He did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.” (Matt. 13:54-58)

I remember the signature line of a comedian and character actor named Rodney Dangerfield, “I don’t get no respect.” Well, this account of Jesus was not an isolated event. Those who should have recognized Who He was were so blinded by their own sin, egocentricity, and pride that they failed to recognize their own visitation from God. Jesus did not get any respect. He continues to face the same rejection in our own age as His Church is rejected.

This was His first visit to Nazareth, His Own hometown, after He began His public ministry. In the ordinariness of His Sacred Humanity, He was simply too much for them. They took offense at God Incarnate! After all, He was the son of a carpenter, and His extended family lived in the neighborhood! How could He preach this kind of message of repentance? How could He work miracles? Other Gospel accounts communicate this same kind of spiritual blindness evidenced in those who should have welcomed Him. Mark writes that many of His neighbors took Him for a madman! (Mk. 3:21)

So, it is with those who bear His name – Christians – if we truly seek to walk in His ways, to participate in His ongoing redemptive mission, to be faithful to His continued work, through His Mystical Body, the Church, of which we are members. They will – they do – take offense at us!

We are living in a new pagan culture that has forgotten God and is rejecting the existence of any truths. For some in our own time, our faith annoys them. Our insistence on the existence of universal truths about the dignity of all human life, marriage as solely possible between one man and one woman, the primacy of religious freedom, and our obligations to one another, and most especially the poor, can cause serious and aggressive reactions.

These words of Jesus should echo in our hearts, draw us to our knees, and add steel to our spines: “Whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32) For most of us, this will not, at least yet, mean physical harm. It may mean being mocked, suffering calumny, being discriminated against, losing fair-weather friends, and seeing career doors closed because we will not compromise the truth.

Are we willing to lose human respect?