Mark 6: 1-6
Oh, to go home! Can you just remember how after years away or finally establishing your identity you went home? How we wished to be seen as the new person we were. How important it was for those who had known us to be excited about our new life.
Remember that time. Remember also the connection and disconnection of going home.
When Jesus returned to his hometown with a following he went to the synagogue to teach. The locals could not believe his wisdom, his deeds of power. “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” “ And they took offense at him.” The class clown cannot become a responsible citizen. The ordinary student cannot discover the next technological breakthrough. The city bad boy cannot become a preacher. The local politician cannot become President. We know you. You’ve forgotten your roots.
Jesus answered: “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown…” And he was powerless there. Why did they, his own, not believe?
Why indeed do we reject those we know best? Why do we not expect vision, greatness, from those we live with? Do we really know them or are we locked in ancient images?
Imagine Jesus among our own. Picture him. Listen to him.
Jesus, come home. Forgive our assumptions. Take away our blindness. Be who you are here. Amen.
Blessings, Caroline
Oh, to go home! Can you just remember how after years away or finally establishing your identity you went home? How we wished to be seen as the new person we were. How important it was for those who had known us to be excited about our new life.
Remember that time. Remember also the connection and disconnection of going home.
When Jesus returned to his hometown with a following he went to the synagogue to teach. The locals could not believe his wisdom, his deeds of power. “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” “ And they took offense at him.” The class clown cannot become a responsible citizen. The ordinary student cannot discover the next technological breakthrough. The city bad boy cannot become a preacher. The local politician cannot become President. We know you. You’ve forgotten your roots.
Jesus answered: “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown…” And he was powerless there. Why did they, his own, not believe?
Why indeed do we reject those we know best? Why do we not expect vision, greatness, from those we live with? Do we really know them or are we locked in ancient images?
Imagine Jesus among our own. Picture him. Listen to him.
Jesus, come home. Forgive our assumptions. Take away our blindness. Be who you are here. Amen.
Blessings, Caroline
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