sharing Jesus in your hometown

"When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:53-58

First of all, let me be very clear. I'm not a prophet.

I do identify with Jesus in this passage however. It's a great irony. The people I should be most familiar with (family and some friends from home) and have spent the majority of my life with, I feel they are the hardest ones with whom to share Jesus and the significance of who Christ is. I can't really figure out why, but I think this passage speaks some to that.

With these closer life relationships, deeply ingrained habits and expectations exist on both sides of the relationship. Any sort of major change or concept breaking previously held notions and ways of doing things don't seem make many inroads. I find it hard finding the words, how to start a conversation, what to do...something so that Christ can be initiated or thought about in the relationship. Likewise, when I am able to try and start conversations, there is not a whole lot of patience for listening to what's being said on the receiving end of things. There seems to be resistance to listening to this "other" life in Christ.

I know it's not up to me and it's completely going to be the Holy Spirit working through these family members and friends if anything it to happen. I think I share Jesus' feelings of frustration and sadness when it comes to people you've grown up with and been around for so long.