Reflection
Jesus was not accepted in
his own town and it paralyzed him. He could perform no mighty deed there, we
read in Mark. It was not that Jesus was a failure. Rather, his fellow
townspeople were failures. They could not see beyond their limited memories of
the child, the youth named Jesus. Jesus, the man, the Savior was rejected by his
fellow Nazarenes. He was nothing special. But he went on from there, and spread
the Word wherever he was received.
We might know the
experience of Jesus because we’ve experienced it as well. Our neighbors and
friends might say of us: Nothing special! And it might paralyze us as well. Their
judgment doesn’t mean that we have nothing to contribute to the unfolding Reign
of God. It might mean that this is not the place, the people who will hear and
join the work of building faith through companionship.
On the other hand, we may
be the ones who reject our neighbor, our family member as not having truth,
justice and hope to offer. Others may be able to do nothing with me present.
On this summer Sunday,
let’s open ourselves to those closest to us, in our family and circle of
friends, in our neighborhood. Let’s see what life would be like if the rejected
Jesus found a home in our town, and his goodness became life for us.