On Luke 4: 14-30:      "Jesus, I pause for a moment to remember that you intimately know what it was like to face difficulty and rejection at home. When you revealed yourself as the promised Messiah in your hometown, you were met with hostility and violence by the people of Nazareth. What was it like to look into their eyes and see anger, judgment, and even hatred? 

I recognize that I can answer those questions myself. I, too, have faced hostility, misunderstanding, and judgment from family and friends. When I come to you with my pain, frustration, anger, and sadness, you know what all of that felt like. And yet, you remained steadfast in your identity. You did not let their rejection and misunderstanding keep you from fulfilling your mission. In the face of such hatred, you continued to love. Teach me to do the same. Allow me to feel secure in myself. Give me resilience and fortitude. And above all, remind me that whatever I face, you love me without condition or hesitation."