Study in Contrasts -Today’s’ lesson poses a
striking contrast to the previous faith stories of chapter five. Here, Jesus is among his
family and in familiar places. But oddly enough, "Jesus could do no deed of power
there . . ." (6:5). Why not? Jesus’ inability to generate healings or faith is
probably due to village perception. The villagers would have resented Jesus’ attempt
to elevate himself above his birth station. [1] Such action would have been considered
"uppity."
Delegated Authority - In the second part of the lesson Jesus delegates
authority to his disciples so that they too, could participate in bringing about the reign
of God. Here are examples of the earliest practices and concerns of Christian mission: the
going out in pairs, the dangers of travel, anointing the sick, provision and conduct
rules, etc. The last rule is telling: appropriate action when rejected. Clearing the dust
from one’s sandals was to curse that place and its inhabitants. Thus, in both parts
of our lesson, rejection is a very real and present danger.
NIB Quote -
The variations in the rules for missionaries show that the earliest Christians
recognized the need to adapt to the circumstances in which they found themselves. The
important point made by the early rules takes a very different form when we think about
Christian missions today . . . The principle that the gospel comes to bring healing,
peace, and good news to people means that missionaries must adapt to the culture of those
they come to serve . . . The gesture of shaking dust off one’s shoes . . .
acknowledges that even the most sophisticated and culturally sensitive presentation of the
gospel can be rejected. [2]
Recalling the adage,
"familiarity breeds contempt," how might the saying describe the experience that
Jesus had in his home town among family and friends?
How can familiarity among parishioners hinder/help clergy to carry out their own
calling?
If you believe that Mark uses these
two stories to speak to the issue of rejection then you might want to recall your own
experiences and stories of being rejected as a way to enter the text.
If you want to hold the sending part of the lesson up, you might focus on how the
disciples were invited to participate in bringing the reign of God to others.
A third option might be to look at the Church’s need to "adapt" to
changing environments; in the first part, we discover that limitations to our ability to
adapt need to be recognized; in the second part of the lesson-the sending of the
twelve-you might consider how we can adapt to the culture of those we have come to serve.
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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible VIII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), page
592.
[2] Ibid, page 1239.
