14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 6:1-6) is quite revealing. Those who had gathered in the synagogue that was located in Jesus’ “native place” clearly were familiar with Jesus because they began to name his family – Mary, his mother; his brothers, James and Joses, Judas and Simon. They even mention his sisters. It is important to note that this identification as brothers and sisters must be taken within the context of the culture and language in which in which Jesus was living. These “brothers and sisters” would be more like extended family, perhaps cousins. This passage in no way contradicts the truth that Mary conceived Jesus by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and that she remained ever-virgin, having had no other children.

The crowd in the synagogue was initially very taken with the authority with which Jesus proclaimed the Scripture – Mark tells us that many were “astonished.” But they had known him growing us as the son of a carpenter and they struggled to reconcile how he could now be proclaiming Scripture so boldly. Their admiration turned to animosity as they took offense at Jesus. Since they had known him as a child, they could not now accept him as a prophet, much less as the Chosen One. Their lack of faith meant that Jesus “was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.”

It has been said that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Even if we do not hold those we know personally in contempt, there is certainly the tendency to have certain expectations of them and those expectations are not always positive. In our minds, they limit our perception of the potential of those people we are familiar with though our pre-conceived notions. We can “pigeonhole” people and fail to recognize and acknowledge their success when they exceed our expectations of them. How blessed we are that God does not “pigeonhole” us! God has instilled within us the potential for limitless possibilities, and is greatly pleased when we strive toward intimacy with him. Every prayer that is prayed, every Sacrament that is received, every charitable act that is offered, every sin that is repented – brings us closer to the God who loves us – often in spite of ourselves.

We are told at the end of this Gospel reading that Jesus “was amazed at their lack of faith.” May he not find us today to be lacking in faith, but rather find us to be a faith-filled people striving to do his divine will.