Is this not the carpenter's son?

 

 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 

 

St. Matthew's chapter 13 is famous for the beautiful yet simple parables Jesus gives which are recorded in it.  These are parables of the kingdom of heaven, described by Jesus as illustrating what it is "like."  In yesterday's reading, Jesus gave us the final parables of this chapter.  He said, "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.  Once again we witness the encounter of Jesus as one who speaks with authority among His own people, so to speak.  This time, Jesus is in His own country, which is Nazareth in Galilee.   My study Bible notes the frequent double response to Jesus; they are both astonished and offended at Him.  These are the neighbors He grew up with, the people who knew Him as the carpenter's son, one of the members of the family they know.  This is not a prominent family who were members of the ruling council, not Levitical priests, not authorities in the synagogue.  So, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?"  Let us remember that to even own a book (or a scroll) is a rather extraordinary thing in Jesus' time, as books were prohibitively costly, time-consuming, and expensive to make.  My study Bible comments that Christ's rejection in His own country fulfills the rejection of the Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Elijah (Luke 4:23-27), and foreshadows His rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  

 

Jesus goes to His hometown of Nazareth, and He doesn't just rock the boat.  He demolishes the foundation of the social order of the town by being simply "the carpenter's son" and member of this family they know, and yet filled with extraordinary wisdom and making mighty works.  He has burst the bubble of the family order they know, and has become -- made manifest -- the Christ they didn't know.  Perhaps only His mother was truly aware, and had faith in, the person that Jesus always was (Luke 2:18-20; John 2:1-5).  But the world, the general public, would not know anything of His identity as Christ until He began His public ministry, which occurred when He was thirty years old.  So for the neighbors and townspeople, this particular Jesus is one whom they did not know.  He is new to them now.  But Jesus' wisdom and mighty works, and their astonished and offended response to them, in some sense confirms all of Jesus' parables of the kingdom of heaven.  For, if this was not such a rare treasure, would they be so astonished -- and would they be so offended at Jesus' rare possession of such prized treasure in this society?  One thing Jesus' rejection teaches us -- and also in the sense that it echoes the rejection of the prophets who came before the Son came to us in human form -- is that if we prize this treasure of the kingdom of heaven, so we will also face rejection.  We'll face rejection from the envious and those who cannot understand, who expect us to be someone quite different than we are in Christ and through the effects of faith and the working of grace.  The true treasure of the kingdom is that pearl of great price from yesterday's reading, and like the treasure in the parable, it is hidden to others.  In that is our joy.  But in our joy, Jesus has taught us, we will also have tribulation.  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"  (John 16:33).  So essential is this lesson in today's reading, that this saying appears in all four Gospels:  "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house" (see also Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44, 1:11).  Let us remember that this treasure of great price is worth every cost, and every effort. 

 

 

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people 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 may 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 (returning from healing the Gadarene demoniac), 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 may 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."  Christ's own country is Nazareth, the place where He was raised.  My study Bible comments that this double response of being both astonished and offended occurs frequently with those who encounter Christ (Luke 11:14-16; John 9:16).  Christ's rejection in his own country is a foreshadowing of His rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  In Near and Middle Eastern usage, then and today, brother can be used as a term for any number of varied relations.  Jesus' brothers and sisters are either children by a previous marriage of St. Joseph, or other relatives such as cousins and extended family.  Mary had only one child, her Son, Jesus.  Christ's saying, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house," is so significant that it is found in all four Gospels (Matthew 13:57; Luke 4:24; John 4:44).

 

 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 comments that Jesus could do no mighty work there, not because He lacked power, but because of the unbelief of all but a few in Nazareth.  While grace is always offered to all, it notes, only those who receive it in faith obtain its benefits.  Let us note here that in the Greek, the word translated here as mighty work is the same word translated as "power" in yesterday's reading, above.  In yesterday's reading, Christ's power went out of Him in response to the faith of the woman with the years-long bloodflow; here there is no faith to respond to.

 

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.   After choosing the twelve (in this reading), the time has come that He has prepared them to be sent out on their first apostolic mission (in the Greek, the word for apostle means "one sent out" while disciple means "learner").  Here, once again, we encounter the word power in English, but in the Greek of this particular verse, this word is more akin to "authority."  This kind of power that He has given them is a conference of strength that comes out of His substance, His identity as Lord.  So, in a sense, Christ has made them His ministers of a sort.  He has given them authority over the unclean spirits, to command them as He does.  My study Bible comments on anointing the sick with oil.  It notes that this not only has medicinal value but also sacramental value.  As God's healing power is bestowed through creation, it says (Mark 5:27; Numbers 21:8-9; 2 Kings 13:21; John 9:6-7; Acts 5:15; 19:11-12), so oil is also a vehicle of God's mercy and healing in the Church (James 5:14).  

 

 Power plays a strong role yet again in today's reading.  We compare and contrast this with the role Christ's power played in yesterday's reading.  Yesterday, as noted above, we read that power went out from Jesus in response to the woman who touched His clothes from behind Him in a crowd.  But in today's reading, that holy power to do "mighty works" has no faith to which to respond in Christ's hometown of Nazareth.  The people there are too clouded by their own memories and assignments of identity to Christ in terms of His social position as One who grew up among them as one of them, and their perspectives on His own family and their place in the town.  Their sight is clouded by their own opinions, worldly experience and assumptions, and possibly prejudices.  They believe that they know what they know, and so they are both astonished and offended at Him.  But they cannot accept the Christ who now stands before them as He is revealed to be in His ministry.  So there is a lack of faith in Him.  But this shows us also how holy power works, for it often does so through the least likely and most unassuming in terms of our own expectations and worldly notions.  This is exemplified in God's words to St. Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).  This, too, is related to faith and prayer, for this was said to St. Paul after he had prayed three times for a certain affliction to be removed from him, and it was not.  Here is the paradoxical (to us) nature of holy power; in this case, God's strength would be perfected in the affliction itself, in the "weak" vessel of St. Paul, conveyed to the world even through that weakness and, according to human judgment, imperfection.  Yet there was no greater advocate for Christ than St. Paul in terms of his ministry's impact upon the founding of the Church, and so God's strength was made perfect.  This is one of the great paradoxes of our faith, the transcendent usurping power of God through all things, turning all things to the power to serve holiness and beauty.  If Christ is perhaps the "least likely" according to the judgment of His fellow townspeople of Nazareth, so we get a taste of how God works in the world.  For, as my study Bible notes above, so it would be at His Crucifixion.  The apostles themselves are sent out with authority -- Christ's authority which He has chosen to confer upon them.  They are hardly images of human perfection or even at this stage the disciples they would grow to be, yet Christ invest His power in them and places His own faith in them as carriers of His message and ministry, as ambassadors of the His Kingdom.  When the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint a new king of Israel, David seemed the least likely of all the possibilities.  But Samuel was told by the Lord of the one who seemed to look the part of a king, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (see the story at 1 Samuel 16:1-13).  So it is that Jesus sends out the apostles on their first mission, with instructions which in all ways proclaim that they are humble, yet they are invested with the authority conferred by God over the unclean spirits.  Their weapon is the gospel; their rebuke to shake the dust off their feet where they will not be heard.  St. Paul writes, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27).  Grace and power, and even authority, work through those whom God chooses, through things we least expect, through all things regardless of the views of the worldly-wise.  For this is how our faith works, and as it is yet still working.  

 

 

 

 

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

 

 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 might 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 (after the encounter with the Gadarene demoniac), 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.  This double response of being both astonished and offended is something my study Bible says occurs frequently with those who encounter Christ (Luke 11:14-16; John 9:16).  Christ's rejection in his own country is a foreshadowing of His rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  We recall that the term brother is used to refer to all manner of relations, such as cousin or nephew.  The brothers and sisters referred to by the townspeople are Jesus' kin, either children of Joseph via an earlier marriage, or other extended family.  Mary had one Child; had she had others to care for her, Jesus giving her into the care of the disciple John at the Cross would have been unthinkable (John 19:26).

 

 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 might 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 comments that Jesus could do no mighty work there, not because He lacked power, but because of the unbelief of all but a few in Nazareth.  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.  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.  These twelve are those whom He called to Himself to both live with Him and learn from Him and to become apostles (Mark 3:13).  In Greek, disciple means "learner," while apostle means "one sent out."  Here they are sent out on their first apostolic mission.  We note that here St. Mark tells us they were sent out two by two, and that St. Matthew's Gospel lists the names of the disciples in pairs (Matthew 10:2-4).  My study Bible suggests that this possibly indicates who traveled with whom.  It also notes that Jesus gave them power over unclean spirits, while Jesus Himself did so by His own power.  Note that healings are closely connected with this power, and with anointing by the apostles.  All of their actions and Christ's commands remind us of the power of the Holy Spirit at work after Pentecost.  My study Bible says that to anoint the sick with oil has not only medicinal value but sacramental value as well.  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). 

In our recent readings, we have repeatedly been given opportunities to contrast fear with faith.  This was so for the apostles crossing the Sea of Galilee through a terrific storm when they were frightened for their lives.  Jesus said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"  Surely the sight of the Gadarene demoniac in the reading that followed was fearful to all, but Christ cast out the demons and returned the man to health.  In yesterday's reading and commentary, we discussed extensively the fear that must have been present for the woman who approached Jesus in secret, and also the fear of Jairus, whom Jesus told, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  In today's reading, we're given other reasons for people to fear.  Jesus is rejected in His home town of Nazareth.  The statement by Jesus, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house," is found in various forms in all four Gospels, so crucial it is to the gospel message. (See also Matthew 13:57; Luke 4:24, John 4:44.)   As my study Bible notes, this rejection is also a prefiguration of rejection by the nation, which will culminate in crucifixion.  But what is really important to note is that in Jesus' sharing of His power with the disciples, now sent out as apostles, He is teaching them to rely totally upon God.  He tells them to take nothing for the journey except a staff, they are not to take extra supplies, "no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts -- but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics."   Moreover, Jesus teaches them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place."  So, in other words, they are to stay in the more humble places that will receive them first, and not "trade up" for better lodgings, as protected guests of possibly more important people.  While these men are sent out without appearing to have material power, or even great significance within the society, nonetheless Jesus is teaching them of the power that will be at work in their mission is such that "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!"  Moreover, this power is manifest through healing and the anointing with oil.  But, as is evident in the rejection of Jesus in His hometown, this power remains unknown to those who cannot receive nor perceive it.   Those who do not receive nor hear the apostles are unaware of and completely insensitive to the presence of this power.  Moreover, this power is not on display to "convince" anyone, to threaten anyone, even to save Christ from the Cross.  So it is in the context of all of these factors in which we understand that the disciples are being prepared for their missions both through the frightening challenges that take them more deeply into their faith, and also through Christ's instructions which render them more dependent upon God at the same time.  This tension between fear and faith is one that grows throughout the Gospels, and perhaps we are meant to accept and understand this more deeply in our own lives as we also meet the challenges to grow in our faith.  We might find it hard to understand that anybody could find fault with Christ, and yet He meets adversity at many turns in His ministry, offending the religious establishment, the people of His hometown, and finding rejection in many places.  Perhaps it's a lesson to us that, as we live in a world of debates, endless online discussion and squabbling, forums for opinion of all sorts, faith must find its way into our own understanding of what is true and real, and what is not.   Rational argument and debate can continue forever, but faith relies on something different and deeper and more subtle.  It also relies upon courage and our capacity for the strength that comes from trust in Christ.  

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

 

 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, returning 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, "You 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 al 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.  Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth (His own country).  My study Bible comments on this double response of being both astonished and offended is a frequent occurrence with those who encounter Christ (Luke 11:14-16; John 9:16).  Christ's rejection in His own country foreshadows His rejection by the whole nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  Jesus brothers are either children by an earlier marriage of His earthly guardian, St. Joseph, or extended family such as cousins (even today in the Middle East, "brother" is used for extended family; and there are many examples in Scripture of this use).  

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 comments that Christ could do no mighty work there in His hometown, not because He lacked power, but because of the unbelief of all but a few in Nazareth.  My study Bible notes that while grace is always offered to all, only those who receive it in faith obtain its benefits.  Note Christ's response to His rejection:  He travels through the villages in a circuit, teaching -- and giving the word of the gospel to those who might listen and truly hear.  That "a prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house" is so significant, it is found in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57; Luke 4:24; John 4:44).  

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. Here is another important and notable response to rejection:  Christ called the twelve He had chosen from among His disciples, and began to send them out as apostles on their first missionary journey.  We observe how they are told to go out in humility:  no ostentatious clothing or possessions with them, not even extra food nor money.  They are to stay in whatever place they are first received, and not "trade up" for better accommodations.  My study Bible comments that this is so they cannot be accused of greed, and would also learn dependence upon God.  Here we also find yet another response to rejection, as taught by Christ:  they are simply to shake off the dust under their feet as a testimony against those who will not receive nor hear them.   And, like Christ, they are to move on to the next place as they fulfill their mission and their instructions.  

And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. My study Bible says that anointing the sick with oil has not only medicinal value but also sacramental value as well.  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).

We note Jesus' response to rejection.  How powerful this is, for we understand who Christ is.  But let us note that His faith is in the power of God, and the way of the Father.  There is a plan for this world, and just how this gospel message is supposed to work. This plan is infused with mercy and with grace, for we are given time to repent, the purpose and kernel of the message that the apostles are sent out to preach, as they follow in His footsteps.  If Christ had such confidence in this power of God, in this mission of preaching to repentance, and to hearing the gospel message, then how can we not also follow in His footsteps with this kind of faith in how this is supposed to be working?  Note especially that in today's reading, we are given Jesus' response to rejection.  His preaching is powerful:  He does not mince words.  But as Son, He does not try to accumulate material power in the world to preach that message nor to impose faith by coercion.  He teaches the disciples to shake the dust from under their feet as a rebuke to those who will not receive or hear them; that is, to those who will not receive or hear the gospel they preach.  So, we are not to suppose that there is no power in this word or in this ministry, but that we rely on the power of God, on the power of the Holy Spirit at work -- and that the mission is to seek out those with the capacity for faith to draw them in.  Overall, this is what we must see in the world, no matter what we do see in the world.  Today, for many people, the world presents us with some fearful sights, including a great deal of rejection of Christ and the gospel message.  Some will dress up what they think is in the gospel, or teachings in the gospel, only without Christ, and without belief in a God.  But how is it possible, really, to dismiss the Kingdom Jesus preaches and only see it as a set of abstract principles?  To do so is to reduce it to legalism.  Mercy as a principle is a good thing in and of itself, but how does one teach the proper use of mercy without Christ's example, and without the notion of communion that comes with this Kingdom?  If the very energies of God are grace and mercy, how do we leave them out from our own growth in this understanding?  Abstraction cannot teach us the kind of love that a real experience of love, even such an experience in prayer and spiritual communion, will show and teach us.  Peace itself is about right-relatedness, about the righteousness of God dwelling among us.  In Matthew's version of the sending out of the apostles on their first mission, Jesus instructs them:  "And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you" (Matthew 10:12-13).  As we discussed at length the understanding of this "peace" in yesterday's commentary, let me quote from a note in my study Bible about Christ's peace here in His instructions to the Twelve.  It notes that Christ commissions His servants to give a greeting of peace, which is the same peace that was proclaimed by the prophets (Isaiah 52:7), which Christ would also offer to the disciples (John 14:27, 20:19), and which would be revealed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  To this day, it says, Christ's peace is offered to the faithful in the Liturgy, with the words, "Peace be to all."  So, continuing from these thoughts, let us consider now Christ's response to rejection.  The gospel message comes with an offer of peace, of a specific and certain king of peace, not like the peace of the world.  Contained in this gospel message is the peace of Christ, a reconciliation to God that is akin to righteousness, and can be shared with others.  In fact, this peace, if we notice, can be given even without reciprocation, and does not rely upon others for the reality of its existence -- for it exists in Christ, and in faith it may exist in us.  It forms a substance of our communion in Christ, for as He indicates, it is contained in the proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom. 

 

 

 

 

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD

 

 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 our hearing."  So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is not this 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 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 

 

On Saturday, we read about Christ's forty day period after His Baptism by John in the Jordan:  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.  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.  Jesus returns from the time of testing in the wilderness to His home region of Galilee, and His public ministry begins.  Note how His reputation grew as He taught in the synagogues, and was glorified by all.

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.   Jesus' "hometown," where He had been brought up, was Nazareth in Galilee.  A source of confusion arises later on in His ministry, among those who do not know that He was born in Bethlehem of Judea, although brought up in Nazareth.

 

  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 Christ is the eternal Son of God, He did not become the world's anointed Savior, but rather has always been our Savior from before the foundation of the world.  My study Bible explains that it was Christ who spoke through Isaiah, as Isaiah said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me" (see Isaiah 61:1-2 from which Jesus reads).  My study Bible asks us to note that He does not say, "The Spirit has come upon Me."  It explains that when the Spirit of the LORD descended on Jesus at His baptism (Luke 3:22), this was a sign revealing an eternal, not temporal, truth to the people.  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 our hearing."  So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is not this 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 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.  My study Bible comments that this double response of marveling (verse 22) and rejection (verse 29) occurs frequently in those who encounter Christ (see Luke 11:14-16; John 9:16).  Christ's saying, that no prophet is accepted in his own country, appears in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; John 4:44).

My study Bible says that this rejection fulfills the rejection of the Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Elisha (verses 26-27), and is a foreshadowing of Christ's rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  Here, the hour of Christ's Passion has not yet come (see John 8:20).

It's very interesting to note how outspoken Jesus is.  It's as if He has come out publicly into the world with His ministry with a commitment never to mince words, to hold nothing back.  There are times we know when He seeks to withdraw, to avoid clashing with the authorities before the time of His Passion.  There are times just after He has had a particular conflict with the religious authorities when He will seek to be out of the way for awhile.  For example, in Mark's Gospel, we're told that when He went through the Gentile territory of Tyre and Sidon, "He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret," and so has an encounter with the Syrophoenician woman who wants His help casting a demon from her daughter (Mark 7:24-30).  Similarly, in Mark's 9th chapter, just before Christ warns the disciples for the second time that He will be killed and rise the third day, we read, "Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know  it" (Mark 9:30-32).  But in this case in today's reading, when Jesus goes to His hometown of Nazareth, it's almost as it if it is time for this particular meeting, this particular objection, this response upon which my study Bible remarks of both marveling and rejection.  He boldly announces to this congregation in the place where He grew up, that the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in their hearing on this day.  Note that He has already established Himself in Galilee with a prominent public ministry, and clearly has done great works elsewhere.  Jesus says 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.'"  In this place where they know Him and His family is where the demand for proofs begin, and it is seemingly as if Jesus has anticipated this type of objection, this obstacle to belief, and the rejection that comes among "His own."  In His own hometown of Nazareth, the people are so outraged at Him when He responds that it was only foreigners who received the word of Elijah and of Elisha, that they attempt to rush Him off a cliff to His death.  His time has not yet come for His Passion and death, but many rejections will come before that also.  Jesus wastes no time mincing words, or seeking to appease, or to find something acceptable to say.  He tells the truth -- the very blunt truth that one supposes He must know they will react to in this hostile way.  After all, we can imagine they say to themselves, who does He think He is?  "Is this not Joseph's son?"  Where did He get those gracious words?  At any rate, Jesus knows the fate of prophets, saying that "no prophet is accepted in his own country."  Therefore what is bound to happen must happen, and Jesus will not change His mission and ministry, His gospel message, nor His obedience to the Father.  Whatever is going to conflict with that is simply what He will accept as He must.  What comes first is following the Father's will and acting in the Father's name -- even if that means rejection in His hometown.  So what can we ourselves learn from Christ's ministry here in His hometown of Nazareth?  There are times when we might face rejection among "our own" because of our faith, because we follow where we think God is leading us.  We might express the "wrong opinion," or perhaps we ourselves are led to develop skills and talents such as "gracious words" that spark both marveling and rejection at the same time.  After all, envy is not something confined to Christ's time, and a truthful prophet no doubt may still find the same response "in his own country."  But for the meantime, let us ponder Jesus' role.  It is not to shrink back, or fail to do His mission.  If rejection of His message will come, that does not mean He will avoid that message.  The last thing Jesus seeks is popularity; He has a job to do, a mission to fulfill, a ministry to make known, a message He must proclaim, and a certain end to fulfill.  It is "the acceptable year of the Lord," and He is the fulfillment of prophecy.  He knows what He is doing, where He is headed and what He is about, and to whom He is loyal above all.  Let us follow His example and accept what we must with His faith and His courage.  

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord

 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 Elish 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 after Jesus' Baptism,  He, 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.  The text tells us about Jesus' spreading ministry in Galilee, and His growing fame.

 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 . . . "  As Christ is the eternal Son of God, He did not become the world's anointed Savior, my study bible says, but rather He has always been our Savior from before the foundation of the world.  It was Christ who spoke through Isaiah, who writes, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me" (Isaiah 61:1).  We note that Christ does not say that "the Spirit of the Lord has come upon Me."  When the Spirit of the Lord descended upon Jesus at the Baptism (3:22), this was a sign that revealed an eternal, not temporal, truth to the people.

" . . . To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."  The time of the Incarnation is the acceptable year of the Lord, 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 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 Elish 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 notes that the double response to Christ of both marveling and rejection occurs frequently in those who encounter Him (see 11:14-16; John 9:16).  Being rejected in His own country fulfills the rejection of the Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Elisha, whom Jesus mentions, and foreshadows the rejection that is to come by the whole nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  Christ accepts death in accordance with the will of the Father, not at the will of the leaders of the Jews.  Here, the hour of Christ's Passion has not yet come (see John 8:20).

Christ is rejected in His hometown.  His words make them angry.  He simply won't reproduce miracles and marvels and signs they've heard happening elsewhere in Galilee on demand.  He refuses to "prove" that He is Messiah.  The people are indignant and incredulous.  How can this be the same person that they remember and know as the son of Joseph?  But He anticipates their demands, and He won't produce the signs they've heard about which have happened elsewhere.  Instead, He goes even further, and reminds them Elijah and Elisha weren't believed in their own country either, and were sent instead to Gentiles to give their signs from God.  It's as if, from the beginning, Jesus is aware of the pattern of rejection He is going to face, and He's prepared for the ministry that lies ahead of Him.  Predictably, the people respond with outrage; so much so, that they wish to throw Him off a cliff.  This won't be the only time that Jesus avoids death at the hands of those whom He's outraged, strangely "passing through the midst of them" (see, for example, John 8:59).  The Gospels give us an understanding that somehow there is a process happening which, despite the free will choices all have to accept or reject Christ, is unfolding in which the "hour" of His death -- which He calls His glorification -- is already known.  Things will unfold in a particular way.  Jesus' deep psychological understanding of those with whom He comes into contact reflects this awareness of human thoughts and responses.  Yet He presses through, because the message He brings and the ministry that is His is more important than pleasing and convincing His audience.  He has a truth to tell, to bring into the world, and that truth means more than persuasion.  It must be presented a certain way, and the choices that people make in response to Him must reach into the heart, beyond a point of mere outrage or initial emotional feelings.  It is those who can reach to that place of reckoning who will find faith in Him.  In our lives, to make good decisions, we're asked to reach beyond the conventional and accepted, and to find that place where real faith dwells.  It's a place that's like a bedrock in the heart, and yet so elusive.  It comes to us perhaps in single moments that suddenly stand apart from conventional awareness and experience of waking life.  It is a place that may be hidden deeply in the heart.  But it is with the spiritual eyes and ears capable of receiving that we suddenly are in that place of faith -- and this moment of understanding is one that occurs despite everything else going on around us and the visceral emotional cues we may receive from others.  Jesus wants that kind of faith, the faith that takes root deep in the good soil of a heart that's ready to hear that truth (see the Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:1-23).  We should ask ourselves if that is the place we want to find and cultivate as well.  That's the place where He asks us to plant a seed that bears fruit, and continues to do so throughout our lives.  It's what He will ultimately sacrifice His life for.   Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying that the Spirit of the Lord has come to send Him 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.  These are those who hearts desire the wealth of spiritual riches He presents, whose broken hearts call for the balm of God's grace, whose freedom is only found in spiritual liberty, whose blindness cries for spiritual sight.  This is the proclamation of the acceptable year of the Lord, for all of us who recognize our need for what He gives, and truly desire what He has to offer.   Christ's mission establishes once and for all time, for all of us, that this acceptable year is always here and now.