Gospel Reflection for July 4th : 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time By Brother Michael
Jesus is rejected
In the gospel today Jesus takes a trip home to Nazareth. This is not social visit. While there he begins to preach in the synagogue. Initially it seems to be going well for Jesus as the people are astonished when they hear him speak. This doesn’t last long and they turn on him saying; ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted to him and these miracles that are worked through him? This is (just) the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, and they would not accept him.’ Having turned on him, then they turn their backs on him and reject him. To use a modern phrase, what they are saying is who does he think he is? Because of their attitude and reaction Jesus can work no miracles, curing only a few people. While at first they were astonished at Jesus’ words and wisdom, in the end he is amazed at their lack of faith.
At the time of Jesus, the people were waiting and hoping for the Messiah. They had very set ideas about The Messiah. They hoped that he would restore Israel to its former glory and then lead people triumphantly. However, Jesus would not be the kind of Messiah or leader they wanted. He challenges their assumptions about him and their expectations of him.
Not everyone who met and heard Jesus liked what he said and some did not follow him, such as the Rich Young Man. He was asked to follow Jesus, but he couldn’t and chose not to go with him. Jesus did not beg him to follow him; he freely called him and he freely let him go. When the word of God came to Mary that she was to be the mother of God she was deeply disturbed and wondered what the words meant. Through this ordinary woman God would do something extraordinary. She heard God’s word for her; she listened faithfully with an open heart and responded courageously. Similarly with us, Jesus calls us by our name; he offers us the message he offered those in the gospel. How we respond to this invitation is up to us. We can either accept Jesus and his message or we can reject him as those in the gospel did.
We are made in the image and likeness of God; we have to be careful not to make God or Jesus in our image to suit our needs. It is true that we each have own idea and image of God or Jesus which helps us to pray and relate to God in ways and in words that we can understand. Jesus talks about himself as the shepherd, the vine, the light, the bread of life, the one who teaches, heals and forgives us. These very simple images that help us enter in to a relationship with Jesus. While Jesus wants to heal, forgive and nourish us, there are times when he challenges us. He asks us to love and forgive our enemies, to welcome the stranger, to care for the poor and neglected, to love others as we love ourselves and to put their needs before our own. He asked to serve others as he serves us. This is the challenging part of his message, the demanding part of the gospel.
Like those in the gospel, we have choices and decisions to make every day as we try our best to follow Jesus. Each day, Jesus calls me by my name to follow him – how do I respond when I hear his call and invitation?
Br Michael Moore OMI
– Br Michael Moore OMI
Gospel – Sunday July 4th Mark 6:1-6 ©
