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

 

 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

 

- Matthew 13:53-58 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has begun speaking in parables.  He first gave the parable of the Sower; then He gave His explanation for why He speaks in parables to the disciples, and He also explained the parable to them.  After that, He taught the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and then the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. In yesterday's reading, He taught the following parables:  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.   Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." 

 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  My study Bible comments on the double response of being both astonished and also of rejecting Christ, which occurs frequently in those who encounter Him (see Luke 11:14-16, John 9:16).  Christ being rejected in His own country fulfills the rejection of Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Elisha (see Jesus' response in Luke 4:26-27), and also foreshadows Christ's rejection by the whole nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  The statement that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country occurs in all four Gospels (see also Mark 6:4, Luke 4:24, John 4:44).

The story in today's reading appears in different sequence in the other Synoptic Gospels.  In Mark's Gospel, it occurs after Jesus performs a miraculous healing at Capernaum and before sending out the Twelve on their first apostolic mission.  In Luke's Gospel it appears right at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  In John's Gospel we simply have mention that Jesus made this statement that a prophet has no honor in his own country (although John does report Nathanael's question, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  See John 1:45-49).  But looking at Matthew's Gospel, the Evangelist places this story just after Jesus has begun teaching to the multitudes in parables.  If we recall, when the disciples asked Jesus why He has begun teaching in parables, He gave them a significant answer implying judgment: "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.  For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."  He also added a quotation from Isaiah:  "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:   'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull.  Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them'" (see this reading).  In the teaching of various parables, such as the Wheat and the Tares, and also the parable of the Dragnet (see yesterday's reading, above), Jesus linked the eventual judgment at the end of the age to the explanation of the parables.  But in the arrangement of the sequence of events in Matthew's Gospel, we must find it of significance that in His hometown of Nazareth, rejection comes immediately after He's begun preaching in parables, as if to illustrate the point of using them to teach, and also about the judgment at the end of the age.  He will be rejected, but it will wait until the "harvest" of the angels for judgment to separate the ones with ears to hear from the ones who cannot hear.  The people of Nazareth will not face dire worldly consequences for their rejection of Him, and neither will others who reject His word.  It is not up to Christ's followers to sit in judgment nor to practice and implement judgment.  Like the good and bad in the dragnet, and the wheat and the tares which grow together until the harvest, we live in a world where all are together, and we await the end of the age and Christ's judgment, which will be implemented by angels, to understand the effects of rejection.  Although of course it is quite true that human beings do often pay a price for their own failure to understand spiritual reality, this is not something we as believers implement -- nor does it negate the understanding that judgment comes at the end of the age and at a time none of us knows.  But, as faithful, we do understand it is our spiritual work, nevertheless, to persist in our faith and to endure in it:  to study, to implement His word in our lives, to pray and worship, and to allow grace to permeate and guide our lives as best we can, regardless of rejection by others.  We are asked for a kind of spiritual discipline that teaches us that we are in charge of our own responses; we at once learn the tolerance implied in this understanding, as well as the spiritual importance of our own choices, and the tragic consequences of rejection.  It is up to us to "shine forth like the sun" in the eyes of those who do perceive spiritual realities, including our Lord and His helpers the angels (Matthew 13:43).  So we are asked at one and the same time for tolerance, persistence, devotion, and dedication, while we also understand that judgment is not our work, although discernment is certainly asked of us.  But we're given good work to do, good ground upon which to build our lives, a word that is worth all the treasures of the world and gives meaning to everything else.  Let us look at the narrowness of Christ's townspeople, and find our meaning in their lack of vision.  They won't open their eyes to what is in front of them because they prefer what is familiar and what they understand from the past.  Our minds and hearts must be open to continue to grow in His word.  This story also teaches us yet again about the flexibility of identity:  the capability we have for grace to interact in our lives and create change and transformation, for Christ's kingdom to be built within us.  Jesus has not changed, but has assumed His role as Christ, and for this they are not prepared.  Pettiness, envy, jealousy, and social competition are all things that can get in the way of "shining forth as the sun."  They also cloud our vision to the pearls of great price, whose glory is that light of Christ.  Let us share and bear His light in the world.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor

 

 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me 

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  

 

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"  He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'"   Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine thorughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

- Luke 4:14–30 

 

 Yesterday we read that Jesus, after His Baptism, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"  Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan!  For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"  Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  For it is written:  'He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,'" and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

 

  Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  These brief verses tell us of the beginning of Christ's ministry, and how quickly news of Him spread as He taught in their synagogues, and was glorified by all.

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.    This passage (verses 16-22) is read in the Church on September 1st, which is the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.  It is by tradition considered to have taken place on what is now called Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (Leviticus 23:24, Numbers 29:1). 

And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor . . ."  My study bible comments here that Christ, being the eternal Son of God, did not become the world's anointed Savior, but has always been our Savior from before the foundation of the world.   In the Church, we understand it as Christ speaking through Isaiah who said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me" (Isaiah 61:1).  Note that Christ does not say, "The Spirit has come upon Me."  My study bible adds that hen the Spirit of the LORD descended on Jesus at His baptism (3:22), this was a sign which revealed an eternal, not temporal, truth to people about Christ the Son.

 

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."   The acceptable year is the time of the Incarnation, when the Kingdom of heaven has come to earth (see 2 Corinthians 6:2).

 

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"  He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'"   Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine thorughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.  My study bible comments on the double response of marveling and rejection.  It is one found frequently with those who encounter Christ (see 11:14-16; John 9:16).   Jesus being rejected in His own country is a fulfillment of the rejection of the Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Elisha, who are mentioned here by Christ.  It also foreshadows Christ's rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  My study bible adds that Christ accepts death according to the Father's will, not at the will of the religious leaders or the crowds whose passions they whip up.  Here, Christ's hour has not yet come (see John 8:20).  

Jesus' statement, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country," is so important in His story that it is found in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, John 4:44).  Of course, it is central to the story of Christ.  Here, by tradition at the start of the new year (a time for blowing the horn), Jesus goes to His hometown, and declares Himself.  His identity as Son is revealed at Baptism (see Tuesday's reading), but in today's reading He is essentially announcing Himself as the Christ to His hometown, as the "anointed one" which the passage from Isaiah declares.  But at this announcement, His townspeople bridle.  They envy His learning and His gracious words.  How can He be one who so rises above His station?  Isn't He Joseph's son, as they know Him?  But, in this frame of mind, He can do nothing of His great works, because those require faith.  They can't accept Him in the role revealed here.  There is witness of Him elsewhere; we're told that He is glorified by all in the surrounding regions.  But in His hometown, they need proof, and proof no one is going to get.  They already have Him pegged as the person they knew and once thought He was.  Right from the beginning, right here in His Galilean ministry, Luke introduces to us the problems of authority which Christ will have right through to the Passion week, to His Crucifixion.  How can He prove He has authority to speak and to teach?  Sometimes in life we will find that we are judged only by what others understand of us.  Yet, in the sight of God we are more than we appear to others.  It is God who knows the heart, and who understands the things of which we might be capable, in God's sight, and with God's help.  We may be capable of transcendence as was Christ, overcoming our own circumstances to find a greater meaning than is presented in a worldly sense.  We may find ways to express great love that others can't see, or compassion we didn't necessarily learn in our homes, a patience God helps us to learn with our own cross, a loyalty others have not shown to us, forbearance learned through experience and through prayer.  All of these things can be gifts of God, and fruit of the Spirit.  As Christ's real identity is from His own relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, so our own deepest identity comes from our relationship with God, and especially in that deeply intimate place where God knows us better than we know ourselves.  As we pray, we not only pray to Father, Son, and Spirit, but also with all the saints and angels, those saints who have been there with us walking through life in this world and through a depth of relationship with God, the angels who help us and encourage us unseen along the way.  This is the place where we find ourselves.  Christ is who He truly is, and none of the naysayers of His hometown can change that.  But neither can He do the miraculous things He's done elsewhere, without their faith first.  There's an odd reflection of our own lives in that, as so often we are simply unable to "prove" who we truly are to those who just don't want to see it.  Christ gives us hope, for He's been there already before us.  Let us take heart from His choice to be there first, and take our direction also from Him and the faith He asks of us.   In today's reading, Jesus reads the words of Isaiah:  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."    Today we must remember that these words have meaning for us right here and right now, especially when we feel poor, brokenhearted, captive, blind, or oppressed -- and right now is always the acceptable year of the LORD.

And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them

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 not 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

In yesterday's reading, we that when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side (after healing a demoniac in the country of the Gadarenes), 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 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."    My study bible points out the double response of being both astonished and offended, and that this occurs frequently with those who encounter Christ (Luke 11:14-16; John 9:16).   Jesus' rejection in his own country foreshadows His rejection by the nation at His trial before Pilate, my study bible adds (John 19:14-15).  Let us recall also that "brothers" even still today across the Middle East, can be used to refer to stepbrothers or cousins, extended family.  Jesus' statement that "a prophet is not without honor except in his own country . . ." is so significant that it is found in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57, Luke 4:24, John 4:44).

Now He could do not 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.  We note the significance of unbelief of all but a few people in Nazareth.  This is not a statement about Jesus' lack of power, but rather about the role faith plays in the use of that power.  My study bible comments that while grace is always offered to all, only those who receive it in faith obtain its benefits.

 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.   We note that Jesus began to send them out two by two; this information is found here in Mark's Gospel, but is reflected Matthew's Gospel, where their names are listed in pairs (Matthew 10:1-4), perhaps indicating who traveled with whom.   We note Jesus' instructions:  their mission is like His.  They must travel in humility, without many possessions or ostentatious appearance.  They must stay with whomever first welcomes them, and not "trade up" for better accommodations after they are more well-known.  Jesus invests His own power in these men, and it is a power that works against the effects of evil, the force of the evil one.  We also note the effects of bringing the kingdom and its power close by:  they will shake off the dust under their feet as a testimony against those who will not receive nor hear them, for the day of judgment.   We also note that they have been sent to preach that people should repent.  This is a preaching of the practice of reorientation toward the kingdom of heaven.

And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.   To cast out demons is a sign of rejection of that which is against the kingdom of heaven.  My study bible adds that anointing the sick with oil hasn't simply medicinal value but sacramental value.  It notes that as God's healing power is bestowed through creation (Mark 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).  

One thing important to note is the sharing of Christ's power with His creation.  Not only is His power shared with His disciples/apostles, but my study bible also points out how that power may also be conveyed through other elements of creation, such as holy oil for anointing and chrismation.  From the earliest years of the Church, as reported in the Acts of the Apostles, we observe this faith.  The citations in the paragraph above, from both Old and New Testaments, also attest to the long history of this belief (such as in the story of the effects of the bones of Elisha in 2 Kings 13:21).  So what are we in the modern world of science and technological development to make of this long history of faith in this effective power made manifest through elements of creation?   Either we are going to accept that we also consist of spirit and not simply matter, or decide to ignore the existence of spirit altogether.  From a wholistic perspective, there are many layers of substance to a human being.  Body, soul, and spirit are inseparable.  We know from human experience what personal illness can mean in our lives, that it is so often not just a matter of battling illness of the flesh, but also the corresponding psychological and spiritual ailments that may accompany that struggle and be part and parcel of it.  The psychological or spiritual aspects occur not simply as reaction to the possibilities of physical suffering, but quite often psychological, spiritual, and physical illness are inseparable and may co-occur at many varying degrees of seriousness.  In fact, any one of these aspects may affect another:  it is not necessarily clear which comes first.  What we do understand -- even in a modern scientific perspective -- is the interaction and inseparability of all of these parts of ourselves.  Modern scientific studies frequently cite the influence of the physical upon the psychological (such as the effect of deficiencies of nutrients or chemicals made by the body, or the study of genetic differences and mutations that may contribute even to psychological or physical diseases).  We also know well the influence of psychological ailments upon the body, such as how depression may affect the immune system (see this article).  But where does the spiritual come into it?  If science can tell us of the interaction of psychology and the material body, then why not assume that a corresponding spiritual reality -- which science simply cannot and does not study -- also interacts with us on all these levels, and also may do so with elements of creation such as we read about in Scripture?  There are studies about the efficacy of prayer on disease, showing positive results, but science cannot presume spiritual cause, simply because "it just doesn't go there."  That said, it would be a poor scientist indeed, and very poor science, that assumes that what has seemingly been proven is all that exists, and that there is nothing more to life.  Through the lives of saints and mystics, and the testimony of Scripture compiled literally through thousands of years of human experience, we know the interaction of the spiritual life within ourselves and in our world.  Through prayer and other experience, we come to understand the role that faith plays in our lives.  We also know fully that in this spiritual realm we have the freedom to reject that faith.  The casting out of demons, and the role of the demonic as reflected so far in nearly every incident of Mark's Gospel, tell us an important part of the story of the spiritual:  that as far as our faith is concerned, even beings that are purely spiritual may reject the faith in Christ that is preached here.  And so, as human beings -- and even for every element of this created world -- we are somehow caught in the middle of such a spiritual choice.  We either choose to be connected to this faith, or not.  The question is really what role that plays in our lives, and how it interacts with us, with our decisions and influences.  Even the recognition of evil plays an important role in what our lives are like.  Far from the simplistic assumption that "blaming the devil" results in a lack of responsibility and true seeking of causes of ailments that plague our world on every level (such as injustice, for example), a recognition of this free will choice and the presence of evil does the opposite:  it makes it more clear what role our own choices and responsibilities play at our deepest root level of consciousness.  Why is humility so important for these disciples?  Why does holy power work best through those willing to give up a materialistic perspective on the things of this world, self-aggrandization, and self-centeredness?  How does a life consecrated to service to God work not only to bring this power of the kingdom of heaven close by, but also create effective help for human beings?   Moreover, how does the power of repentance, a simple reconsideration of our outlook or attitude or habit, constitute an opening up to what is better, and transcendent realities of love and mercy that may manifest through our own capacity for spiritual change?  These are mysteries that can only open up through our positive capacity for receptiveness to faith "that moves mountains" (Mark 11:23).  This is not about magic, but rather about the capacity for the holy to manifest itself in creation.  It is about the kingdom of heaven and where it belongs, and about our choices to receive that kingdom within ourselves.  Let us consider what it means to be wholly and truly healthy -- body, soul, and spirit -- and what that takes and means for our lives.  It may conflict with a certain modern point of view, but it cannot be denied by science, only affirmed through studies of the lives of the faithful.  

Where then did this Man get all these things?

 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

- Matthew 13:53-58

In our readings from chapter 13, Jesus has been teaching the crowds in parables.  Yesterday we read that He taught:  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they threw to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  My study bible remarks upon the double response to Christ so often found in the Gospels in those who encounter Him.  It is one of both marveling and rejection.  Here His fellow countrymen in Nazareth are both astonished at His wisdom and His mighty works, and they are offended at Him.  They know His people, His extended family -- His mother Mary, and His brothers and sisters (likely children of Joseph from an earlier marriage, or cousins to Jesus; see commentary in this reading).   My study bible says that Christ's being rejected in His own country fulfills the rejection of the Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Elisha (Luke 4:25-27), and foreshadows His rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  The statement that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country is found in all four Gospels (Mark 6:4, Luke 4:24, John 4:44).

What are we to make of Jesus' rejection among His own people and in His own country?  Something about the familiarity of Christ to His own local people prevents them from acceptance of His messianic identity.  It is seemingly not possible for them to grasp His wisdom and His mighty works, as if they are possessions He has no right to have.  Perhaps they are just too grand for this person they know and the family He belongs to that they know among themselves.  Perhaps we're to understand that He comes from a family known to the Nazarenes as rather humble, people of whom there are not very high expectations.  Nazareth itself is a town rather frowned upon by others, as we hear both from Nathanael ("Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" - John 1:43-46) and the Pharisees who dismiss Him scathingly (John 7:52).  Indeed, in John's Gospel it is explicitly made clear that His own "brothers" do not believe in Him (John 7:1-9).  It's important that there is a kind of envy at work here, a denial of gifts that are the property of God to dispense and express.  So, in addition to breaking barriers and assumptions about gender, about "cleanliness," about ethnicity, Jesus' public ministry also breaks barriers of class and social position.  In a very explicit sense, in multiple directions, Jesus lets us know that there are no human-imposed limitations that God can't break.  Our assumptions cannot be applied to God's grace, whether or not we are speaking of our understanding of  deservedness or goodness or appropriateness or any other standard we think we know.  God always stretches us, asks us to find new ways to embrace God's grace and love, to become greater people, less limited, and to cast off assumptions that stand between ourselves and God's answer for who and what we are.  In short, that God is a mystery is a reality that is always with us and that we must be prepared to embrace.  If we believe that we know what "right thinking" is, or that we have all the answers, then we are in for a surprise.  God will take what we are used to, and challenge us to embrace different assumptions.  Sometimes, seemingly paradoxically, the greatness that we may be challenged to accept -- that is, our own expansion as persons with greater understanding -- comes in the form of our own need for more humility in order to truly see what is in front of us, the gift we're offered.  The townspeople of Nazareth cannot accept the truth of their own humility before the wisdom and mighty works of Jesus.  As is so often true, our own greatness comes with the acceptance of humility (23:11-15).  Even in Jesus' case, as Son of God, He is called upon to break social barriers that result in His own rejection by His own people, which will result ultimately in His rejection by the nation and subsequent execution.   He illustrates Himself what is undoubtedly clear from today's reading, that "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (23:12).

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 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 the Sea of Galilee again to 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 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.   Jesus' own country is Nazareth in Galilee, the place where He was raised from childhood.   These are people in the synagogue who know His extended family.  (Brothers and sisters are terms frequently used for extended family and relatives such as cousins, nephews, and step-siblings both in Scripture and by custom in the Middle East.)   Their familiarity with Him and His "place" among them makes for a difficult adjustment to the reality of His ministry, and so they are offended at Him.  My study bible points out that the double response of being both astonished and offended happens 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 Jewish nation at the trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  This saying by Jesus, that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house appears in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57, Luke 4:24, John 4:44).  Even Jesus marveled because of their unbelief.  The other occasion upon which we're told Jesus marveled is at the faith of the centurion (Matthew 8:10, Luke 7:9).

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 tells us that the twelve were sent out on this first apostolic journey two by two.  In Matthew's Gospel, the apostles' names are given in pairs, suggesting who may have traveled with whom (Matthew 10:1-4).  We note the careful humility with which they are to accomplish their mission, which Jesus spells out quite explicitly and deliberately.  To stay in one house until they depart means not to "trade up" for better lodgings as they are accepted in a place.  Any rejection is simply to be met by shaking off the dust under their feet as they depart from there, as a testimony against them.  To anoint the sick with oil has not merely medicinal value but also sacramental value, my study bible notes.   It says, "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)."

It's interesting to note that Jesus marvels twice in the Gospels.  One incident is with the rejection of His townspeople in Nazareth.  The other is at the faith displayed by the foreigner, the centurion, when Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (Matthew 8:10).  This word for marvel in the Greek has as its root the same word that's used in common modern language for "miracle."   (That He can do no mighty work due to the lack of faith in Nazareth is the Scriptural language for miracle.)  Marvel means in the context of the Scripture to cause amazement and wonder and astonishment.  That people marvel and wonder and are amazed is one thing.  But when Jesus Himself marvels we really have to be struck by this story.  How can the "knower of hearts" marvel?  What is it He is wondering at, this Creator who has assumed a fully human life and still remains divine?  He knows full well in advance that Judas plans to betray Him, He seems to know all that will happen, and a number of times we're told that He knows what is in men's hearts.  And so, why and how does He marvel at these times -- at the lack of faith of His townspeople in Nazareth, and at the great faith expressed by the centurion?   I'm certain that great theologians have pondered this question and perhaps have an answer that I am not aware of.  But to me this "amazing" phenomenon suggests that God knows each and every thing about us -- but that the great depth and mystery of faith is truly left  to something deep within us that answers with acceptance or rejection.  It almost seems as if the text is telling us that Jesus' incarnation as Messiah, this great cosmic mission that is at the center of all history, opens up revelations to amaze even the Creator Himself.  How human beings respond to the "God-man," Christ, becomes a revelation to all of Creation, and even to the Lord.  Oh, I am certain that in the fullness of the reality of the Trinity, all things are known; but nevertheless, human free will does indeed remain an intriguing mystery.  It is the boundary that God will not cross, for God does not compel us to love God.  Jesus' messianic mission as the Son who is both fully human and fully divine sets off sparks and ripples that continue to amaze, to create wonder, and, I personally imagine, to dazzle a universe via the human responses it creates and builds.  (Today's reading, after all, gives us the first apostolic mission, in which Christ's power is shared with those human beings whose faith is such that they grow from disciples to apostles.)  Jesus Himself said He didn't come to bring peace but a sword, and in this division between the faith of the centurion and the lack of faith of His townspeople, we can see what He's talking about.  So much depends upon just our response.  Can we overcome the "worldly" influence of familiarity or set ways of thinking or values we need to discard?  The centurion has himself been able to do so in having faith in Christ and Christ's power.  Jesus' fellow townspeople have not, and so His power does not work among them -- there is no human faith to connect with His power to heal.  Let us marvel as well at this tremendous mystery of both our creation and Creator -- the One who has given us so much contained within us, and who depends upon us to return His love.   God knows our hearts.  The question of faith asks us if we can "know" God.

Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe

 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.  For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"  Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"  Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better.  And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."  So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives."  And he himself believed, and his whole household.  This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

- John 4:43-54

 Yesterday, we read the continuation of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well.  At this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are You talking with her?"  The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?"  Then they went out of the city and came to Him.  In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."  But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."  Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?"  Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.  Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!  And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.  For in this the saying is true:  'One sows and another reaps.'  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."  So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.  And many more believed because of His own word.  Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.  For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.  Jesus' testimony that a prophet has no honor in his own country is found in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, Luke 4:24).

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."   We are back again in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus' first sign of seven in John's Gospel took place at the wedding.  Jesus complains to the people in general ("you" in Jesus' sentence here is plural both times) that faith based on miracles or wonders alone isn't true salvation.  My study bible says that this kind of incomplete faith quickly turns to scorn should the miracles cease (19:15).

The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"  Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"  Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better.  And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."  So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives."  And he himself believed, and his whole household.  This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.   This second sign in the Gospel of John teaches that Jesus not only sees into the hearts of people from a distance (see His first meeting with Nathanael), but also that He can heal from a distance.  My study bible tells us that this shows Christ's power has no earthly limits.  The nobleman's concern is primarily for his child, but his faith in Christ is weak -- he believes Christ needs to be physically present to heal the child.  Furthermore, Christ has power even over death.  The nobleman eventually asks about the timing of the healing.  When all is confirmed, then he and his whole household believe.  My study bible says that in healing the child from a distance, Jesus heals not only the physical body of the child, but also the soul of the nobleman.

It's interesting to note my study bible's emphasis on the progress of faith within the nobleman.  He's desperate to save his child.  But somehow he puts his faith in Christ to do so, although his faith is "limited," as my study bible says.  He doesn't really have the full confidence that Christ's true power warrants.  Jesus lectures everybody as the man pleads, that "unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."   This is how we get our first hint that woven through these actions is the story of faith and how it grows -- that it is a kind of a journey.  The man goes through his own process of growing trust and faith, and validation, to find that Jesus healed his son from a distance, and with a word given to him ("Your son lives").  Eventually, it is the whole household -- all the people involved here, including the servants who reported to him and participated in this process -- who believe.  The details are so important, because they illuminate great truths for all of Jesus' followers.  We don't really know where our search for faith is going to take us.  We don't even know how that search gets started.  Clearly this man's beginning was in seeking help to heal his son.  He put his hope in Christ for that reason, and it was Christ who called it out, disparaging in some sense that faith only comes through signs and wonders with "you people."   And yet, the man is on a road.  It is his persistence with Christ that moves him further along in faith.  This isn't the first time (witness the story of the Samaritan woman at the well) nor the last time that will happen!  The struggle with God for faith is a real and important factor in what determines who we are and how we grow.  (We can also see something of that in the story of Jesus' first meeting with Nathanael.)   There's something more in this story that is important and clearly central to our understanding of faith.  Faith is a search for truth.  It's not just a search for belief, and it's not just motivated by a desire to believe in 'something.'  At its heart, faith has to be about finding -- in a deep and sincere seeking -- that which we can put our trust into.  It's about finding truth; that is, finding what is truly real.  Truth and trust (the Greek root of "faith") are inseparable in this search.  We are built with a need to worship.  We are either going to find that root of truth in which to trust, or we will find other things we 'idolize.'   But the goal here is finding the love and trust, after all, in the Person who is Truth.  That is, the place in which we can rest with certainty that we are on the right road.  This is the true place in which we, in return, are loved and cared for properly; it is the place in which we will not be led astray from what is truly best for us.  As my study bible puts it in speaking of the soul of the nobleman, it's the place were we're fully healed.  We're truly in the fullness of 'home' and 'household' in this place.  In getting there, we may also bring many of those around ourselves with us through our relationship with them.  This works through the power of prayer, which goes as deep as the word Christ gives within us.  Do not be discouraged in the journey of faith.  The Gospels teach us that it is all of a process.  It is the love of truth that gets us there, in the word of the Logos Himself that teaches where we put our trust.  Let us be glad for the struggle in which we're invited to earnestly engage.  There is never a need to apologize for that honest search.

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

 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

- Matthew 13:53-58

Chapter 13 of Matthew's Gospel introduces us to Jesus' use of parables in His ministry.  It is a distinct turning point, occurring at the same time as it is clear that the religious authorities begin to plot against Him.  He began with the parable of the Sower and its explanation in private to His disciples (see 13:1-23).  He then gave the parable of the Wheat the Tares, and then the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven.  Once again in private, the disciples asked Him to explain the parable of the Wheat and the Tares to them.  Then, in yesterday's reading, Jesus taught:   "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  Jesus' own country is His hometown of Nazareth.  These are His neighbors and those who know His family, in the place where He spent His life prior to His ministry.  They all know Him as the carpenter's son.  They know His mother called Mary, and His extended family (called brothers and sisters in common parlance).  How is it possible this is the same Man, and more precisely, where did He get this wisdom and these mighty works?  My study bible  notes the double response of both marveling and rejection (here they are astonished and offended) -- something that occurs frequently in those who encounter Christ (Luke 11:14-16, John 9:16).  His rejection in His own country fulfills the rejection of the Old Testament prophets (as He will also allude) such as Elijah and Elisha, and foreshadows His rejection by the nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  My study bible says that Christ accepts His death in accordance with the Father's will -- not that of His persecutors who plot against Him.  This statement about the rejection of prophets is so essential that it appears in all four Gospels (see also Mark 6:4, Luke 4:24, John 4:44).

 This story of rejection in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth comes, as we've noted above, at a turning point in Jesus' ministry.  It has become clear that He's being rejected by the religious leadership, and they've begun to plot against Him.  At this stage, it becomes significant that He teaches in parables, as His Church is to go out to all the nations, to the Gentiles.  His teaching comes in forms that are "hidden in plain sight" in the parables, as His desire is to appear to those "with ears to hear and eyes to see."  No longer will this be only about one people, but rather about an extension of the people of God who come from all of the world, who have spiritual eyes and ears to discern His message, who truly desire it -- like the pearl of great price in yesterday's reading, or the field that contains the great treasure worth all else.  This is what He's looking for.  It's important to remember that He first loved us.  No matter what else we know, we know this.  As the prophets have been sent and rejected, as Jesus was sent and rejected, so we know that He first loved us.  God's love has been present for us from the beginning, is present with us, will always be the reality of God in relationship to us.  The question really is how we respond.  If we read all of chapter 4 of John's First Epistle, what we see is that it is the "language" of love, the communication of love, that really defines faith and fleshes it out, gives us its fullness.  It takes that response of love to know love, a mutual communion, in which not only do we grow in the relationship with God, but we also are to grow in relation to one another -- in which we learn love.  That's what gives us the fullness of real discipleship.  But it starts with God's love -- and our spiritual eyes and ears for discernment are linked to our own capacity to respond to love as disciples.  This is the great key.  What we see in those who are resentful and in their rejection of Christ is often a very material point of view, one that focuses on competition:  Who does He think He is?  How can He get this stuff?  He, and the prophets before Him, upset the social order.  They "speak truth to power," if we are to quote a slogan that's used in circumstances quite far away from the truly prophetic if it's not used with love as true communion.  But it's just in that aspect of true prophecy that we have to understand love:  love is not the kind of all-coddling, self-serving 'materialistic' notion that so many people have.  Such a self-serving notion is not the antidote to the over-harsh discipline of what is called love but is abusive.  The antidote to what is not love is love that is all about truth, that wants the best from us, that will also correct in order to save -- and whose true characteristic is that our service to that love is always something that strengthens, ennobles, and broadens us.  And that's where we really need to have ears to hear and eyes to see.  We need to perceive that love so that we respond to it, no matter how different or shocking or upsetting its form may be on the surface.  This is the real key here to Jesus' ministry.  The One who loves us best is not going to just hold our hand and say that right where we are is perfect; on the contrary, He's going to pull and stretch and grow us beyond what we can see today, right now and right here -- beyond what we already know.  The prophets come in many forms, Christ is the Teacher of all, the Holy Spirit works in us and among us in myriad ways, and the Father sends all of this -- from love -- for us.  It is we who must recall that wisdom is justified by her children.   Can we respond when love asks for us to stretch beyond 'our own country and our own house?'

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"  He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your country."  Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah; when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

- Luke 4:14-30

 In yesterday's reading, events took place right after Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.  Luke's Gospel tells us, then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  Jesus went through three temptations about His ministry. First, in His great hunger, He was told:  "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"  Then Jesus was shown the kingdoms of the world, and told:  "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  But Jesus replied, "Get behind Me, Satan!  For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "  Then Jesus was taken to the pinnacle of the temple, and tempted to throw Himself down; Satan quoted Scripture to test Him about God's providence.  But Jesus told Him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "    The Gospel tells us that when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  Jesus is Galilean, so He's returning home for His ministry, and to gather disciples.  Early on, He meets with great success, and "glory."

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."  As is His custom, we are told, Jesus opens the scroll and it is the book of Isaiah.  He reads Isaiah's announcement of the coming of Messiah, His purpose, and His plan.  The Spirit of the Lord, my study bible points out, has anointed Jesus at His baptism.  "Jesus will bring blessings long awaited by the Jewish people," it notes, "thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah."  Jesus is speaking of Himself, to His hometown and the people gathered there in the synagogue.  He's not doing anything differently than He's done elsewhere so far in His ministry. 

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  He announces His good news.

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"  He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your country."  He's announcing Himself as Christ, but they can't believe it.  They know Him as Joseph's son; what He has to reveal they are unable to perceive.  Jesus' words, then, refer to a kind of testing and proof-demanding.  Let Him do here in Nazareth what He's reputed to have done elsewhere.  Capernaum, where Peter's home is, forms a sort of headquarters for His ministry.

Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah; when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  Jesus warns them about the nature of God's grace and His ministry.  Kinship or group membership or ancestry isn't enough for this, to guarantee a sort of election.  He gives them examples from Israel's history, in which it was Gentiles who received the blessings of God's grace, to whom the Spirit went in God's mercy.  In Christian history, we will come to understand sonship as that of adoption, through relationship given in grace, participation in God's love.  My study bible says that Jesus "warns them that their heritage alone will not save them."

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.  Through His refusal to accommodate their demands, He engenders their wrath.  It is not yet His hour, that is quite a ways ahead.  He leaves the city unharmed.

What is it to leave behind old ties, to refuse to accommodate demands that compromise our own integrity and trust in God?  Sometimes demands may be placed upon all of us that have the effect of inviting a kind of betrayal of our relationship to God and our own integrity.  Those demands may come in the form of friendships and kinships and any sort of relationship or tie that presses us in a sentimental or other way, even from those whom we love deeply.  But the truth is that the ultimate arbiter of love and thereby righteous relationships is God.  We participate in God's loving energies so that we learn right relatedness to others.  Here in today's reading, Jesus proclaims the Good News, and it is the great good news of Isaiah:  that the Messiah is above all else a liberator, from all kinds of things:  He is here to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.  In all of these ways, He is here to set us free on so many levels.  But today's lesson teaches us what freedom is in love, and to love:  we are liberated from false demands that compromise our integrity of character and purpose, and especially the love that God would teach us.  There is no one who can claim our worship but God.  This is the one thing that can't really be compromised, because it's the place where we learn truly how to love others, and how to separate true love from a false sense of obligation, how to be true to the One who gives us true self so that we may in turn be true to others, and not simply a slave to false demands.  How do you practice that form of integrity?  Where does your love and understanding come from?  How does faith teach you what love truly is?  How does it lead you more deeply into its true relationships for you?  What does honor really mean to you?

A prophet is not without honor

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 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 works 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

In yesterday's reading, Jairus, the synagogue ruler, came to Jesus and asked Him to heal His daughter. She was twelve years old, and near death. As Jesus moves through the crowds toward Jairus' house, He turned and said to His disciples, "Who touched My clothes?" There was a woman with a twelve years long blood flow, who had suffered many things and spent all her money on doctors, only to grow worse. She said to herself, that if she could only touch the hem of His garment, she might be healed. Jesus felt the power go out of Himself, and asked His disciples who touched His clothes. They said,"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." Some servants came then and told Jairus not to bother, that his daughter was dead. But Jesus told Him, "Do not be afraid, only believe."Jesus took only Peter, James and John with Him, and went to Jairus' house. There, there was a huge commotion from those who were wailing and mourning the girl's death. Jesus said, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." They ridiculed Him. Jesus put everybody outside, took her father and mother with Him,, along with His inner circle of disciples, and went into her room. There, He took the girl by the hand and said, "Talitha, cumi," which means in Aramaic, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." She arose and walked, and they were all amazed. Jesus told them all strictly that no one should know it, but commanded they give the girl something 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. As is His custom during His ministry, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue. But this time, He is in His own country, His hometown of Nazareth.

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 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. The familiarity of these people who know Him as the carpenter's son lead them to doubt that He could be anything but what they've always assumed Him to be. They are offended at Him. In light of the Gospels, we might also consider Nathanael's question in John's Gospel, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nazareth was a town in an area of mixed population, with many customs both "foreign" and Jewish. That might form as a backdrop for us to understand the workings of God, mysterious and unpredictable by human standards of judging -- like the wind, the Spirit blows where it will. Faith is not something that works by our logic! But there is a deeper truth here, one that has been a shared perspective in the tradition of the Church throughout its long history. My study bible says, "They are offended because they can do none of His works, and they are unwilling to accept a far greater role and dignity for Him." It also tells us, "In Scripture the words brothers and sisters can refer to stepbrothers and stepsisters, as well as other relatives." (For example, Abraham and Lot are called "brothers" when they are uncle and nephew.) At any rate, we are to understand that this is a town that is home to extended family, where Jesus' clan is well-known to all.

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 works there; except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. This saying of Jesus is so essential to our understanding that it is reported in all four Gospels. Familiarity and competition work here to prevent them from truly seeing who Jesus is. My study bible says, "Jealousy affects faith. Every person could have been restored. But in the absence of faith, Jesus does not release the divine power which is always His."

Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Jesus resumes His ministry, going about this area of Galilee.

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. Perhaps His traveling about the circuit of the villages worked as a kind of training for the disciples who learn from Him. Here, they are sent out on their first mission. Two by two, they go out to represent the Kingdom. Note the first gift of Christ to His disciples: He gave them power over unclean spirits. Something new is coming to this place, a Kingdom is establishing itself in power against the adversary, the "strong man" of this world. This first mission, notes my study bible, is a preparation for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

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!" They are not to prepare: nothing here is ostentatious, but quite the opposite. And when they go to a house, they are to remain with the first family that welcomes them -- they are not to change lodgings presumably for a "better" or more impressive place to stay. And when they are not welcomed in a town, they are simply to depart and "shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them." This is the extent of the expression of the power of the judgment in which they have faith. In great contrast to the competition and jealousy of rank in the hometown of Jesus, among His neighbors and those who know Him, the disciples act in all humility. There is no pomp and power associated with their visit to these towns. Neither is there military might that accompanies them, nor great feats of destruction or anger where they are not welcome. They are to simply shake the dust from under their feet in testimony against them. My study bible calls it, "a symbolic gesture of judgment." Can we see the contrast in this Kingdom from the worldly one? God's power does not work in the ways of power of "worldly" persons.

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. Another note here is worth repeating: "Preaching is an earnest proclamation, and this present proclamation of the need for repentance is momentous. This is the first time the Twelve perform miracles. God gives His power, His energy, to human beings and through human beings -- to and through those who repent. he shares with us by grace what is His by nature. The disciples anointed with oil as part of the act of healing, for by the Incarnation of Christ creation is renewed: oil and water become instruments of healing and renewal for the human race." It's quite clear that here is a Kingdom coming into this world: the proclamation for "repentance" is a proclamation to open one's eyes, to "change one's mind" -- to turn and receive something new. And something new is clearly at hand, in the midst of them, and among these disciples who share in the power and grace of Christ and His Kingdom.

When we receive a gift of God via grace, there is no longer any sort of issue of competition. Human notions of hierarchy and rank, of jealousy and envy unfortunately also compete with our understanding of the gospel, of the good news of this Kingdom. According to St. Paul, all are a part of this Body of Christ, each has their own part to play in it. Paul will go even further as he continues his letter to the Corinthians, and teach that the greatest of all gifts is that of love; and there is even more, that without love, there is nothing. So today, another contemplation for Lent becomes important, and appropriate, and that is the worldly way that we see competition among one another (and in family) in contrast with Jesus' kingdom. There is a powerful reason why Jesus' statement is in all four Gospels! "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." Oftentimes, I find that Christians do tremendous work in helping those who are outside of their own community, perhaps far away and around the world, but to the person in their own home, among their kin, or perhaps in the next pew, there might be very little understanding about the power of communication, and the subtle work of envy or jealousy or the spirit of competition. Indeed, it can creep into our own very good works. Let us take St. Paul's words to heart, and also the power of the gospel in these men in their first fledgling mission. What's your testimony? What's your gift of grace? Let us remain in relationship to the head, to Christ, as He has taught us, and take that grace into our lives, however it may be given. Let us remember His teachings of humility for these twelve on their first mission, and the power in that judgment, no matter what it looks like on worldly terms. Jesus teaches us a different way of relating, of being in the world. Let us endeavor to accept it.