Pentecost 5

The Reverend Martha Frances

Year B, Pentecost 5, Proper 9

5 July 2009

Text: Mark 6: 1-13

Other Readings: 2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10

In the church or in the business community, if the leadership wants the community to buy into a new idea, a common strategy is to invite an expert in to present it. Who is an expert? An expert is someone from at least 50 miles away who carries a briefcase—& these days gives a power point presentation!

When Jesus returned home to the small town of Nazareth, he was asked to speak in the synagogue. For once, the issue was not his healing on the Sabbath but rather a matter of his very identity. In Nazareth, everyone knew him. Here was Jesus, the hometown carpenter boy who had gone off as an itinerant preacher, back home again sounding like a rabbi, like an expert. But they all knew this was just Jesus who had worked in the carpenter's shop making a living for his mother, brothers, & sisters after Joseph died. This was Jesus, Mary's son, who had made tables & door frames & windows for their homes & yokes for their oxen. Who did he think he was, coming back home & teaching like he'd gone off to Jerusalem University & gotten a degree or something? Sure, he sounded wise, but he'd been showing off ever since he was 12. This was just Jesus. They all knew him.

And with this story, we see human nature & group psychology in all its glory. We're reminded first of Jesus' humanity. Jesus is the carpenter, the son of Mary, brother of James & Joses, Judas & Simon & at least 2 sisters. Remember how he was left behind in Jerusalem the year he was 12? How he worried his mother that time!

Second, we see the natural tendency of the townspeople. They disbelieve that this common working man from their own home town could possibly be anyone special. He isn't even from one of the best families. How could one of theirs know so much about the things of the Spirit? Why, he's only a layman! Many of those who hear him are astounded. In fact, they "took offense" which means they are scandalized—his being a hometown boy was a stumbling block for them.

And in the end, Jesus himself is amazed at their disbelief. Not only is he amazed; their disbelief actually becomes a stumbling block to his effectiveness to minister there in Nazareth. Mark has been describing Jesus' many miraculous deeds in the previous several chapters: calming the storm, healing the woman who had had a hemorrhage for 12 years, & raising Jairus' daughter from the dead. Pretty amazing actions, don't you agree? Here, in contrast, Mark says Jesus can do no work of power, except for healing a few sick people. This rejection by his own people restricts his ministry causing him to move on, his work ended in Nazareth. One commentary calls this an "unmiracle story."

For some of you, my coming among you as priest might have been like Jesus coming home to Nazareth. I had known a few of you long before I was ordained & then more of you when I was supplying both at Incarnation & St. Michael's. While I considered that familiarity an advantage when we began our journey together 4 years ago, perhaps the familiarity has similarly affected our ability to move forward as much as we would like. Regardless, we have worked hard together to meld this community into one & after 4 years are coming to a familiarity & comfort with one another which hopefully allows us to grow deeper spiritually together & to reach out to do mission in the larger world, both in our neighborhood & beyond.

Jesus tells those in Nazareth that prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, & among their own kin, & in their own house. Diane Bergant said about this passage that prophets are not those who look into the future, but those who have insight into the present. Hope's leadership is working hard to discern how God is calling us to ministry & mission in these challenging times, & I invite & encourage all of us to daily prayer for this parish & its leadership. We must never forget, however, that each one of us is called to be a disciple by our baptism, & we are all called to gain the skills & momentum to venture forward as a revived community of faith.

Leadership is a tricky & sometimes lonely position as Paul tells the Corinthians in the epistle passage today. For inspiration, he remembers his own mystical experience of a call to proclaim Jesus as the Christ rather than to persecute the Christians. At this point in Paul's ministry, he is facing some opposition in his leadership role, & he reminds this sometimes-difficult community that any boasting he might do about his ministry is really affirming God's grace & empowering, not his own doing. Further, Paul explains that he is not perfect, that he is afflicted with what he calls a thorn in the flesh—we're never told what that is. Paul explains that he has prayed that it be removed but the answer he has received is that he is to rely upon God who is stronger than any detriment we're afflicted with. In fact, Paul realizes that the thorn keeps him aware that he must rely totally upon God, not upon his own gifts & virtues. Can we not all affirm the need to rely upon God who can work through our shortcomings to build up God's community of faith.

Jesus doesn't just sit around moping about his homefolks' lack of belief in him, however. The 2^nd half of our Gospel passage today contains his commissioning the disciples to go out into the world to share the Good News with others. Jesus' marching orders to the 12 are worthy of our attention, for they apply to us today. He didn't expect them to go alone; he sent them out 2 by 2. We Americans are celebrating our independence this weekend, yet Christians are called to interdependence, working together & supporting each other. When our Eucharistic visitors take communion to the homebound, they go out in pairs. They form a small community to represent this worshiping community as they include those who can't be here physically to join us in worship spiritually. We uphold them here in the gathered community as we pray for them in the prayers of the people. You have the list in your pew bulletin so you can continue that intercessory prayer at home. That's just one example of our interdependence as well as our reliance upon God for our strength & guidance.

Jesus is clear that the disciples are not to rely upon their own brilliance or their being properly equipped as they preach & teach & heal. They're not to take food or money or even extra clothes—only a walking stick to hold them up when they're weary. They're to rely upon God to provide. Further, they're not to shop around for the best deal in lodging. They're to be grateful to whichever hosts invite them in. What kind of a witness would they be in a community if they stayed with one host & then rejected that hospitality for a better deal? Further, it's not their job to be people-pleasers. They're to preach the gospel that Jesus has taught which we know is often counter-intuitive & challenges the status quo. If they are rejected, they are to disassociate from that rejection (shaking the dust from their sandals) & move on to where people are ready to hear the Good News of God according to Jesus. Laity as well as clergy sometimes focus so much upon winning one person or group that they may turn the targeted audience off but also be too discouraged to continue the work which Jesus gives us to do. God is the judge of our effectiveness, & we're called to be faithful, not necessarily successful. In fact, Jesus often reminds us that our version of success may be vastly different from God's. Certainly the downfall of "successful" people in our society recently—both with inappropriate financial & moral dealings—should help us remember that God's ways are often now our ways. Regular prayer, Bible study, & accountability with a small group of other Christians can keep us grounded & focused on God's will.

What are the guidelines for living Christian lives & sharing them with others? Today's collect which we prayed together at the beginning of the service sums up Jesus' expectations: loving God & our neighbor. How can we be devoted to God with our whole heart & united to one another with pure affection, sharing that affection with all those we encounter? That's our homework for this week----and for the rest of our lives. So, my friends, travel light! God go with you each day.