Something to say

Jesus, teach me to talk to people who will listen to me! Amen.

After Jesus spoke in His hometown, the people there said, "Isn't He just Joseph's son?" Jesus said, "You're going to say, `Do miracles like we heard you did in Capernaum.' But a prophet is never accepted in His own hometown." People got angry and tried to throw Him off a mountain, but Jesus escaped.

Do you ever feel like no one really listens to what you say just because you're a kid? If so, you're not the only one! Even grownups sometimes say that people who've known them since they were kids still think of them as being young.

Grownups and kids both have important things to say. Jesus would sympathize with you, because in this week's Gospel (Luke 4:21-30), even He can't get anyone to pay attention to Him in His hometown!

It's weird; but when people know you for a long time, they might forget you're growing up. To them, it doesn't seem long ago that you were just a baby, so they don't understand how you can already have opinions on everything from movies to the environment.

When Jesus went to the town He grew up in, He probably felt as exasperated as you do. He tried to tell people He was the Son of God, but they just remembered Him as a kid who worked with Joseph, His foster father, and didn't believe Him.

If some people don't pay attention to what you think, you might want to yell or storm out of the room. Jesus, though, had a better idea: Remind them you're not the little kid they're picturing in their minds -- and then go find other people who will listen to you.

There are lots of different people in the world, and many of them can't wait to hear how you feel about things!