Today’s Gospel tells us:
 

No kidding.

Haven’t you ever had the feeling that the people at work pay a lot more attention to you than your own family?  Or that the people you meet at conferences are a lot more interested in what you have to say than the people you work with?  That the pearls of wisdom from your lips are merely cast before—well, you know what I mean.

Jesus felt the same way.  The people he  encounters say, “Aah-- that’s just Jesus.  We know him.  Where does he get off telling us all this stuff?  He’s a local boy—nothing special.”  Familiarity does seem to breed indifference, at least, here.

Jesus didn’t “do many mighty works” there in his home area.  And so we often seem to be spinning our wheels in our own routines, just grinding away, doing what we think is great, important, without any recognition.

Everyone likes recognition—an “attaboy,” a “you go, girl!”  A pat on the back, loud and raucous acclaim, praise, acknowledgement.  Something.  Anything.  But we don’t always get it.  We’re seldom prophets in our own land.

As Jesus doubtless knew, God knows, sees, and understands us in our every movement.  Sure, he isn’t going to send down angels with trumpets and banners and hosannas just because you finished of the big report.  But just be aware that there’s always Someone who recognizes your toil.

So for everyone who reads this—whatever you’re doing—Consider yourself, at least for a moment, acknowledged, patted on the back.  Way to go.  Keep it up.  There is indeed someone watching.