BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 32)

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – July 6, 2003

 

“They Took Offense at Him” 

 

BIBLE READINGS

Ez 2:2-5 // II Cor 12:7-10 // Mk 6:1-6


I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS                  

            The following story narrated by Anthony de Mello in his book, The Song of the Bird, illustrates poignantly the irony contained in today’s Gospel reading (Mk 6:1-6). 

            Nasruddin earned his living selling eggs. Someone came to his shop one day and said, “Guess what I have in my hand.” “Give me a clue,” said Nasruddin. “I shall give you several: It has the shape of an egg, the size of an egg. It looks like an egg, tastes like an egg, and smells like an egg. Inside it is yellow and white. It is liquid before it is cooked, becomes thick when heated. It was, moreover, laid by a hen.” “Aha! I know!” said Nasruddin. “It is some sort of cake!” 

            It is ironical. The expert misses the obvious. And it was also with irony that the neighbors of Jesus of Nazareth missed the obvious. They thought they knew every detail about him. In purporting to have complete knowledge of his personal data, they ended up showing their ignorance. Their knowledge of “the carpenter, the son of Mary” was superficial. Their prejudice prevented them from believing and responding to the Christ, the Son of God. 

In today’s Gospel episode, we come face to face with the mystery of a resisting and unbelieving heart. Mark’s narrative illustrates the human possibility and reality of closing one’s heart and mind to the Prophet of truth and Savior of the world. It is ironical that the saving Lord, who would be the object of Peter’s faith declaration: “You are the Christ.” (Mk 8:30) and the centurion’s climactic confession at the foot of the cross: “Truly this man was the Son of God.” (Mk 15:39), was not welcomed by the neighbors of Jesus. According to Mark, “they took offense at him”. They were prejudiced by the utter ordinariness of his background. 

The account of the people’s rejection of Jesus serves as a transition point. It bridges the greatest of Jesus’ miracles in his Galilean ministry, the raising of the daughter of Jairus to life (Mk 5:35-43), with the sharing of his healing power with the disciples (Mk 6:7-13). According to Edward Mally, “The significance of this episode is obvious: it is a dramatic and tragic end of Jesus’ Galilean ministry foreshadowing the greater rejection of Israel; at the same time, it signals a new phase of the ministry in which the Twelve will play a more active role (6:7-13) as an anticipation of the mission of the apostolic Church, especially toward those outside Judaism.” Indeed, this transitional passage underlines that Jesus’ preaching will also meet failure. Disappointment and rejection are part and parcel of the mission of Jesus, as well as, of his disciples and the Church. 

Jesus was amazed by the lack of faith that he found at Nazareth. The popular proverb he cited, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house” (Mk 6:5), situated him in line with all the prophets who were subjected to rejection by their co-citizens as illustrated by the fate of the prophets Elijah and Elisah (cf. Lk 4:25-27). Jesus was affected by the power of their unbelief and was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. Jesus respects human freedom. The decision of an unbelieving and resisting heart, which negates the gratuitous offer of his love, is respected. According to Philip Van Linden: “Mark’s readers, no matter how familiar they are with Jesus, might well evaluate the depth of their faith in him in order to allow him to be as effective as he wants to be in their midst.” 

II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART 

  1. Did we ever reject a “prophet”?

  1. Did we ever feel that we were a “prophet”? Did we experience being rejected as a “prophet”?

  1. How deep is our faith in Jesus? Is it deep enough to allow him to be effective in our midst?

III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD 

Leader: Lord Jesus, your co-citizens were scandalized by your humble “roots”. They took offense at you. Lord, have mercy.

Assembly: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Christ Jesus, your neighbors were prejudiced because you were a carpenter, and they knew you as the son of Mary. They took offense at you. Christ, have mercy.

Assembly: Christ, have mercy.

Leader: Lord Jesus, you were not able to perform any mighty deed in Nazareth for the people’s lack of faith. Lord, have mercy.

Assembly: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Jesus, help us to have true faith in you.

Assembly: Jesus, you are the true prophet who speaks the word of life. We welcome you in our hearts. Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.

IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD 

            The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it. 

            “He was amazed at their lack of faith.”  (Mk 6:6) 

V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION 
  1. ACTION PLAN: Pray for the proclaimers of the Word, especially those who are experiencing rejection and difficulties, that they may be strengthened in the exigencies of their prophetic ministry.

  1. ACTION PLAN: In reparation for the rejection suffered by Jesus from his neighbors, do not react negatively to someone who treats you with hostility, but rather, respond to him/her with an act of kindness.

Prepared by: Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM


SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
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Staten Island, NY 10314
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