Thomas Wolfe penned the immortal words, “You can never go home again.” Our Gospel documents that truth in a unique way.

Early in his ministry, Jesus and his disciples made a tour through his hometown. The people in Nazareth were unable to accept him as the inspired Teacher. Their judgment was limited to how they had always known him: a child, a young man, a carpenter, a local boy. They were unable to see him as Jesus the Rabbi and the Christ to be. And so they rejected him. It was on that occasion that Jesus proclaimed, “A prophet will always be held in honor except in his home town, and among his kinsmen and family.” I find it interesting that this proverbial saying comes at the time of year when thousands of young men and women are taking leave of their hometowns. They are moving on to …