Mark 6: 1- 13

Read: 

Mark 6: 1- 13 (NRSV)

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, 'Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, 'Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.' 5And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, 'Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.' 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Think:

One of the things I try to remember when I go home to either one of my "home parishes" to preach is this passage.  These people knew me when I was lost but now I'm found and I wonder if sometimes they still think of me as a lost little child (now mind you I didn't join my congregation which sponsored me for ordination until after graduate school, so they didn't actually know me as a child) but I think that would even be worse.

Someone asked me the other day why the teenagers didn't listen to them, didn't like them, didn't want to open up to them.  I reminded them that they saw these teens in diapers, and asked if they would have opened up to an  old family friend with their issues of faith, just because they wanted them too.  How often do we forget that when we were children we were not the people we are today.  However how often do we hold onto the images of young people as toddlers and children when they come back home.  I can't begin to tell you how many times someone has told me they have known the person I am with since they were "this high" or "in diapers" and its always a little disconcerting.  I want to respond with, really, I've known them since they were about this high (and put my hand on top of their head if they are standing next to me).  It's not a question of how long you know someone - rather it is a question of how long you are willing to get to know someone.

Jesus' was judged by those who though they knew him.  How often am I guilty of this in my own life?  I think I know you because we went to high school together, or grade school or church.  I think I know you because you worked with me 4 years ago or sat next to me in geometry class, even though we never talked, and we are friends on facebook now.  How often do I expect others to be exactly the same when I know that I have changed so much in recent years.  How often do I cringe when someone says "you look just the same" and then turn around and say the same thing to others.

Pray

Jesus, you were judged by your hometown and not accepted. Help me to see people for where they are and not where they have come from. Be present with me when I am judged according to my past and allow me to open my heart to see the growth and change in people which can be so difficult to observe when all we want to see is more of the same.  I ask that you be my vision always, through Your Father, and the Holy Spirit as well.  Amen

Contemplate:

I am not the same girl I was.  Nor will I ever be again.