Mark 6:1-6
Dear Friends, In today’s Gospel we read in verse two: “Many who heard him were astonished. They said where did his man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given to him: What mighty deeds have been wrought by his hands!” (Mk 6:2)
No doubt, the residents of the town had heard of the raising of Jarius’ daughter, the cure of the woman, the healing of the demoniac and probably the quieting of the storm at sea. In a town with no evening news on TV and no morning paper, Jesus gave them quite a bit to talk about at their break time and all throughout the day.
The surprising conclusion was strong and clear. Their opinion of Jesus was forceful and without hesitancy in their opposition. In verse three we read: “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?...And they took offense at him.” (Mk 6:3).
The townsfolk showed their astonishment in the many deeds of Jesus. On the other hand, they showed no interest in the wisdom and truth and healing generosity flowing from the witness of his mighty deeds.
Jesus understood the challenge he was placing before the people of Nazareth. It is the same issue for us today. The first public words he proclaims lay out a clear invitation to change, to move out of the comfortable rituals and prejudices that reduce God to a manageable size and image. Jesus said, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15).
The folks had no confusion about Jesus. He was calling them to change. Jesus was calling them out of their contented niche, their clinging to a past and a present of convenience and comfort. Jesus was calling them, and us today, to a future that demands a deep trust and faith and change!
Jesus was not into accommodation, easy adjustment or reassurance. Jesus was and is inviting us into a Mystery that shatters our little world. He wants to draw us into a faithful response that deals with the paradox of the first being last, of the leader being the servant, of losing your life to save it, of taking up your cross to walk with the Savior to Jerusalem.
It is truly amazing how we can domesticate and trivialize Jesus’ gospel message to fit our limited measure of God. For some, it is the gospel of prosperity. For others it is the safe and secure answers to all of life’s mysteries some find in their limited interpretation of the Baltimore catechism. We are fearful of the unknown and the ever expanding challenge of the future. In one way or another we are inclined to create a Jesus to distract or eliminate that basic fear of our mortality.
Jesus comes to call us in faith to that future. He wants us to know he is with us in the sicknesses and trials, the ever growing demands of aging, the losses of security in today’s economy where the average CEO earns two hundred times the average worker.
Jesus wants us to be open to the poor and down trodden. Jesus pleads with us to see his presence in the immigrants. There is no crisis, communal or personal, that faith cannot overcome if we are willing to walk with Jesus on his terms not ours.
The folks of Nazareth were among the first of legions down through history to suffer the scandal of the Incarnation. For them, there was no way “the carpenter, the son of Mary” could do all these mighty deeds. In their closed mentality, God could not come that close to our daily struggles. God had to be hidden far away. Our only contact with God was through our religious rituals and traditions. This was the safe way.
The Incarnate Jesus was offering another way to experience God. Jesus was revealing a God present in our daily life and struggles. God was being displayed as one in our midst through our relationships and responsibilities. As Teresa of Avila so famously stated, “We will find God among the pots and pans.”
No doubt, the residents of the town had heard of the raising of Jarius’ daughter, the cure of the woman, the healing of the demoniac and probably the quieting of the storm at sea. In a town with no evening news on TV and no morning paper, Jesus gave them quite a bit to talk about at their break time and all throughout the day.
The surprising conclusion was strong and clear. Their opinion of Jesus was forceful and without hesitancy in their opposition. In verse three we read: “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?...And they took offense at him.” (Mk 6:3).
The townsfolk showed their astonishment in the many deeds of Jesus. On the other hand, they showed no interest in the wisdom and truth and healing generosity flowing from the witness of his mighty deeds.
Jesus understood the challenge he was placing before the people of Nazareth. It is the same issue for us today. The first public words he proclaims lay out a clear invitation to change, to move out of the comfortable rituals and prejudices that reduce God to a manageable size and image. Jesus said, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15).
The folks had no confusion about Jesus. He was calling them to change. Jesus was calling them out of their contented niche, their clinging to a past and a present of convenience and comfort. Jesus was calling them, and us today, to a future that demands a deep trust and faith and change!
Jesus was not into accommodation, easy adjustment or reassurance. Jesus was and is inviting us into a Mystery that shatters our little world. He wants to draw us into a faithful response that deals with the paradox of the first being last, of the leader being the servant, of losing your life to save it, of taking up your cross to walk with the Savior to Jerusalem.
It is truly amazing how we can domesticate and trivialize Jesus’ gospel message to fit our limited measure of God. For some, it is the gospel of prosperity. For others it is the safe and secure answers to all of life’s mysteries some find in their limited interpretation of the Baltimore catechism. We are fearful of the unknown and the ever expanding challenge of the future. In one way or another we are inclined to create a Jesus to distract or eliminate that basic fear of our mortality.
Jesus comes to call us in faith to that future. He wants us to know he is with us in the sicknesses and trials, the ever growing demands of aging, the losses of security in today’s economy where the average CEO earns two hundred times the average worker.
Jesus wants us to be open to the poor and down trodden. Jesus pleads with us to see his presence in the immigrants. There is no crisis, communal or personal, that faith cannot overcome if we are willing to walk with Jesus on his terms not ours.
The folks of Nazareth were among the first of legions down through history to suffer the scandal of the Incarnation. For them, there was no way “the carpenter, the son of Mary” could do all these mighty deeds. In their closed mentality, God could not come that close to our daily struggles. God had to be hidden far away. Our only contact with God was through our religious rituals and traditions. This was the safe way.
The Incarnate Jesus was offering another way to experience God. Jesus was revealing a God present in our daily life and struggles. God was being displayed as one in our midst through our relationships and responsibilities. As Teresa of Avila so famously stated, “We will find God among the pots and pans.”
