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14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The world today is in need of dynamic leaders who take humanity forward to the fullness of life meant for all, rich and poor alike. The disciples of Jesus are called to become leaders who will become agents of God’s reign by empowering the people to become God’s family.
In the coming three Sundays, we have the readings from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, verses 1-6, 7-13, and 30-34. Let me begin by saying something about the author of the Gospel of Mark, its community and message. The evangelist Mark was a missionary companion of Peter (1 Pet 5:13) and was familiar with the suffering and persecution of the Christians in Rome. The Gospel seems to have been written in Rome around 70 CE to deepen the faith of the Christians amidst persecution, to encourage them to endure suffering as Jesus did in his life time. Mark thus presents Jesus as the suffering messiah, who was rejected by Jews in general, and his own family people, close friends and disciples in particular. The evangelist underlines the failure of the disciples to understand the presence of the divine at work in Jesus. The Gospel, however, demonstrates that, in spite of the rejection and disbelief on the part of Israel as well as his own disciples and family members, the message of Jesus is everlasting. In Mark’s Gospel, we have a story of a never-failing God encountering the ever-failing disciples. As we live in a world characterized by an ever increasing violence, insecurity and broken relationships, the Gospel message gives us the assurance that the final victory belongs to everything that gives life, proclaims truth, enhances love and fosters communion.
Mark 6:1-6 [Jesus is rejected in his hometown]
1He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this ? What is this wisdom that has been given to him ? What deeds of power are being done by his hands ! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us ?" And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching [NRS].
Jesus comes to his home region and he, as was his custom, makes his public appearance by teaching in the synagogue on a Sabbath day. His villagers, relatives and family members are taken by surprise at his learning and wisdom. They are perplexed about the mighty works done by his hands. They know who Jesus was : a carpenter, the son of Mary. Jesus responds to them by quoting a proverbial saying which had its parallels in popular speeches of his time : "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." Jesus’ saying in Mark deliberately includes the rejection of the prophets “among their own kin, and in their own house” (compare the saying in John 4:44 [“a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country”] and the Gospel of Thomas 31). Jesus’ home people failed to see the greatness of Jesus transcending his biological origins. Just as the leaders of Israel rejected Jesus earlier in the narrative (3:6), his own country people and family members also refused to accept him. As we say today, “familiarity breeds contempt.” The text says that Jesus could not do mighty works there because of their unbelief. Jesus can make the healing presence of God visible only when the recipients remain open to receive the grace of God. God’s intervention in our daily life is always a two-way process. Jesus’ withdrawal from his own home town represents both his programmatic break with his own household and his gradual discovery of his identity and mission in the midst of the larger family of God. Jesus is called to establish a new community or a new family of those who do the will of God (“whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” 3:35).
The text invites us [the readers] to look into the dynamics of our thinking and relationships - how prejudiced we are sometimes when we relate with people who are familiar to us. Prejudices prevent us from seeing the goodness and accepting the truth. When we are enslaved by prejudices, we develop a negative attitude towards people. We need to be careful about what we think and how we think about ourselves and others : “Be careful how you think ; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Pro 4:23). If our thoughts are positive, then our life becomes more enhancing and inspiring. The Gospel calls us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary and to experience God’s presence among familiar colleagues, friends and family or community members. The reading also challenges us to create a new society, better than the one we have today, a new culture of fellowship marked by positive thinking as well as respect and love.
Mark 6:7-13 [Jesus sends out the disciples on a mission]
7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff ; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts ; 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them [NRS].
Jesus’ instructions to the disciples set the priorities for the mission. The disciples share in Jesus’ authority over the evil spirits to heal people or to make others whole. However, they are to set out on a missionary journey trusting completely in the gifts of God. They are allowed to have the means of travel, but not sustenance ; for example, they can carry a stick and wear sandals, but they cannot take food, a bag or money with them. For their sustenance they are to depend entirely upon the hospitality of the people whom they serve. Mark is thus not propagating radical asceticism, but total dependence on the providence of God and the generosity of the people. If the people do not welcome them, then the disciples are not to impose their views upon the people by force. They have to respect the freedom of the people. However, the symbolic gesture of “shaking off the dust from the feet” functions as a warming to the people. The text concludes by reporting briefly what the disciples did - they preached repentance, drove out demons and healed many people.
The main focus of the missionary work given to the disciples is a call to conversion - metanoia, the call to turn away from all that is destructive and dehumanizing. The experience of personal conversion (metanoia) empowers us to work for structural change and social transformation. The Gospel invites us to participate in the new life of God revealed by Jesus. The broken humanity today is in need of God’s healing presence through our words and deeds. It is an invitation to become whole and integrated as well as to work for the wholeness and well being of others. Our total dependence on God’s providence, coupled with our persistence to bring forth results, will work miracles in our life.
Mark 6:30-34 [The return of the disciples and the need for leadership]
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd ; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd ; and he began to teach them many things [NRS].
The disciples seem to have had a busy life, but the joy of accomplishing God’s work was very rewarding. Mark reports the missionary activities of the disciples in a bare summary form, without any detail. The disciples were sent out two by two. They could live by the instructions of Jesus and were successful in what they have done in the name of Jesus. With a sense of fulfilment and full of joy, the disciples returned to Jesus. After their ministry, they are together with their master. This communion is important for the understanding of discipleship in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus called the disciples to be with him and to be sent out on a mission (3:14). Jesus recognizes the need for recharging the batteries of the disciples in order to be effective and efficient in their mission : “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and you can rest for a while.” However, Jesus is moved by the enthusiasm of the people, who ran ahead by land and arrived at the place ahead of Jesus and his disciples. Jesus felt compassion and began to teach them since they were like sheep without a shepherd.
We encounter Jesus as someone who is deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the people of God. He presents a model for mission that blends quiet contemplation, intimate communion and active commitment. A process of reflection, action and re-reading done in communion is necessary for effective ministry. The Markan Jesus also underlines the need for leaders with vision and values ; conviction and commitment. The leaders are challenged to shift their priorities from a power-centered leadership to people-oriented service. The world today is in need of dynamic leaders who take humanity forward to the fullness of life meant for all, rich and poor alike. The disciples of Jesus are called to become leaders who will become agents of God’s reign by empowering the people to become God’s family.
Lectio Divina
July 5, 12, 19, 2009
Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Sundays of the Year [B]
Rekha Chennattu, RA, India
Remonter