Today's Responsorial Psalm is the second of the seven penitential psalms. In it the psalmist thanks God that he is one of those blessed enough to have received God's forgivness for his stubborness and closed mindedness. His stubborness had its origin in the proud and sinful nature he shares with us.

In the first reading we find that King David had fallen into the trap fallen into by many powerful men. He wanted to be able to publicly glory in the large number of people who were his subjects instead of quietly and gratefully accepting them as a gift from God. He stubbornly persisted with his plan despite Joab's warning. He only called off the census when he saw the punishment inflicted on his people for his pride.

In the Gospel we see Jesus' townspeople rejecting him not because they were rich and powerful but because of their very ordinariness. They were annoyed and offended by Jesus' words and actions. They muttered among themselves; "who is this fellow? Who does he think he is? He's just an ordinary person like us." They are ashamed of their lack of education and worldly experience. Their pride was pricked. They needed to repent for their own special brand of pride. If there is a touch of small town pride about us we won't be able to work happily and effectively with Jesus.