A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house

 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.  And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.  And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things?  And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!  Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?  And are not His sisters here with us?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."  Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief.  Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.  He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts -- but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.  Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"  So they went out and preached that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

- Mark 6:1-13

Yesterday we read that when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, back to His ministry's "home territory" of Capernaum), a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.  And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death.  Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.  Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"  But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."  While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  And he permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep?  The child is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him.  But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with great amazement.  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said to that something should be given her to eat.

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.  And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.  And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things?  And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!  Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?  And are not His sisters here with us?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."  Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief.  Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.  My study bible notes that the double response exhibited here, of being both astonished and offended, occurs frequently with those who encounter Christ (Luke 11:14-16; John 9:16).  Jesus' rejection in his own country foreshadows the rejection by the whole nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  So essential to Jesus' story is this rejection that His saying, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country," is found in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57, Luke 4:24, John 4:44).  We note that Jesus Himself marvels in return because of their unbelief.   He can only help a few in Nazareth, because of their unbelief.  My study bible says that while grace is always offered to all, only those who receive it in faith obtain its benefits.  Jesus' response is to continue His mission, going about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.  He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts -- but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.  Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"  So they went out and preached that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.  The first thing we notice about this first apostolic journey is the humility with which He sends them out.  As He's invested them with His power, this is an example of the paradoxical nature of our faith.  They are to take nothing with them that gives them prestige, if you will.  They are not to "trade up" for better lodgings, but to honor those who receive them first.  They are merely to shake off the dust under their feet as their testimony against those who will not, although Christ expressly speaks of how such will fare in the day of judgment.  We note that they are sent out two by two.  My study bible notes that anointing the sick with oil has not only medicinal value but also sacramental value.  As God's healing power is bestowed through creation (5:27; Numbers 21:8-9; 2 Kings 13:21; John 9:6-7; Acts 5:15, 19:11-12), so oil is a vehicle of God's mercy and healing in the Church (James 5:14).

We note that people are both astonished and offended by Jesus, as my study bible points out.  In His hometown, they're both surprised by what He knows and the great gifts He has -- and at the same time they're offended because He's different from the person they thought they knew.  He's more gifted, more powerful, extraordinary.  They fail to put their faith in Him, with a few exceptions.  Jesus' path is anything but simple and easy.  Contrary to what I would characterize as a belief found in many "self-help" doctrines, just because Jesus is doing the right thing, and following His passion, so to speak, doesn't mean the world will simply line up in welcome for Him.  In fact, it is quite the opposite.  Jesus has a mission, and everybody is not going to love Him for it.  He exemplifies every good quality we can name.  He is compassionate, He is loving, He helps people, He is courageous, He endures difficulties, He tells the truth, He shares His power with others.  But somehow, all of this does not make Him a hit with everyone.  People gather in multitudes to see His healings, even to hear Him preach.  But ultimately, faith is lacking not only in His hometown of Nazareth, but elsewhere where He's done great things.  Jesus will say, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes" (Luke 10:13).   In Matthew's Gospel these words are prefaced by telling us that these were the towns in which most of His miracles had been performed (Matthew 11:20).   He is a sinless man, and yet faith is lacking.  People will not put their trust in Him.  The Gospels give us the truth, that we live in a world where life isn't perfect, and where God's justice may indicate something quite different from what we see and how we experience life.  Jesus says of those towns where the apostles' word is rejected, that "it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"   The apostles are simply to shake the dust from under their feet as a testimony, and move on.  Life is much more complex than simply a question of doing what's right and all will fall into "perfect" place, and the Gospels give us that true picture.   The insight and compassion we receive is all about our own faith, our own choices, the goodness in which we choose to trust and to carry with us, regardless of the response of the world.  We're not being sold a popularity formula, a recipe for material success or fame or adoration.  We're told the truth, and we're given the challenge to meet Him where He comes to meet us.  We learn from the Master, as do the disciples:  we do what we know is right, and keep moving on and forward.  St. Mark the Ascetic teaches, "Do the good you know, and what you do not know will be revealed to you."  This is our formula for a truly "successful" life, for entering into a life of love in faith, and continual growth in learning -- which is what it means, after all, to be a disciple.  Jesus will pray to the Father for His disciples at the Last Supper, saying that "the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.   They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."  What is familiar and known may reject what is different, what does not work as the "world" works, especially when we choose His way instead and He takes us out of the world we know.  Let us follow His word, and be sanctified in His truth.