Rejected

July 8, 2018

Today’s gospel really shows us a human side to Jesus. He probably missed home, his mom, his family, his friends, and he probably wanted to show them how he had grown as a teacher and scholar. Maybe he was excited and somewhat nervous as he stood up in his hometown synagogue to preach on the word. Maybe he knew it would backfire on him. Maybe he hoped his momma would be proud. Maybe he had high expectations about the reaction of his neighbors. Maybe it was a safe place to test the waters. I think it’s a scene that we can all relate to. If you really want to get to know someone, spend time with his or her family! They’ll tell you the true story. Our families know us in a different way than the outside world and while strangers and acquaintances might be “astonished” by whatever it is that we do for a living, our family is the one that keeps us in check, right! Just ask a preacher’s wife or children. Just ask my parents or brother (preferably my parents, wink wink) and they will tell you about cranky, opinionated, inpatient Jen and when I hear their stories about me, I wince because gosh darn it, they’re right! Ugh.

Now, I’m not suggesting that Jesus was any of those negative things, however, the story suggests that he was not necessarily the shiny eloquent preacher or brilliant impressive scholar amongst his peeps and of course at first they were blown away by him, but when they realized that his preaching had messianic overtones, they succumbed to their own fear and insecurity of having to get out of their comfort zones, change their old ways, and follow their next door neighbor, their handy man, their best friend’s son, their paper boy, the town bachelor. When push comes to shove they would rather find all the excuses not to believe him rather than grow their faith. Raise your hand if you have ever done the same.

Faith requires three things: belief, knowledge, and trust. Because Jesus had not been doing ministry in his hometown, they only had a limited experience of his work and because they could not see the whole picture, their faith was lacking. I wonder if this broke his heart? Here he was evangelizing all the neighboring villages, healing the sick, and opening hearts, including the gentiles, Samaritans, and even a Roman centurion, but in his home, he was rejected.  The text says, “So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Their lack of faith prohibited Jesus from being able to work wonders there. How sad this must have been for Jesus. It helps me deal with my own rejection for sure. How many times have I rejected Christ because my view of the whole picture was obstructed by fear, insecurity, jealousy, pride, etc.? How many times has he been prohibited from doing mighty works because my faith was lacking?

Today’s gospel has two messages for us: 1.  Even Jesus was rejected by the people he loved the most, but he did not wallow in despair and simply moved on to the next town doing what he was called to do. We must trust that God is using us for His plan whether people accept us or not. 2.  Faith requires trust and that means that we need to step outside of our own weakness and fear and choose Christ.

I pray that we keep Jesus’ rejection by his loved ones close to our hearts for the times when we wonder why we are being rejected, because God is still working in us. I pray that when Jesus is in our presence, we will act in faith, trusting fully in his might deeds and upon hearing his Word we will follow him. Have a blessed day and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EZ 2:2-5

As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me
and set me on my feet,
and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:
Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,
rebels who have rebelled against me;
they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day.
Hard of face and obstinate of heart
are they to whom I am sending you. 
But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! 
And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—
they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 123:1-2, 2, 3-4

R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven —
As the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
As the eyes of a maid
are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
till he have pity on us.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,
for we are more than sated with contempt;
our souls are more than sated
with the mockery of the arrogant,
with the contempt of the proud.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Reading 2 2 COR 12:7-10

Brothers and sisters:
That I, Paul, might not become too elated,
because of the abundance of the revelations,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,
to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.” 
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,
in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ;
for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Alleluia CF. LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished. 
They said, “Where did this man get all this? 
What kind of wisdom has been given him? 
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? 
And are not his sisters here with us?” 
And they took offense at him. 
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.” 
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.