Mark 6:1-6

The text for this Sunday’s gospel follows directly from last week’s text. The contrast in people’s response to Jesus’ presence in their midst is dramatic. The faith of both Jairus and the woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years (last week’s text) is the opposite reaction of the people of Nazareth in this week’s text. They do not take offense because of Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue. Mark states clearly in verse 2 “…many who heard him were astonished.” Rather, their problem comes from who Jesus is, who his family was. Their struggle is based on the most basic of values for people of the day, honor.

Each person held a certain status in the community and they were entrusted with the responsibility to maintain that status. To try to rise above that status was a disruption of the social structures of society. This was dishonorable. A major factor in determining a person’s status in the community was their family. Sons were expected to carry on the trade and business of their father. Jesus would have been expected to be a carpenter like his father. There are hints in the gospel text that those in Nazareth viewed Jesus as breaking the socially accepted norms of behavior and therefore Jesus had lost status in the community. Nazareth is the town of Joseph. Yet in verse 3 Jesus is referred to, not as the son of Joseph, but as “the son of Mary”. Mark’s community understands this as clearly a derogatory statement. It would usually suggest that his father is not known. There is a possibility that statement would indicate that Joseph had died but that does not seem to fit the context.

People who study and reflect on the gospels often realize that there is a great deal of Jesus’ public life for which we have no record. Mark, like all the gospel writers, had to select what events, in the life of Jesus, he would include in his gospel. Why would Mark include a text that is not flattering to the people of Jesus’ hometown? Why would he suggest, in some way, that Jesus was negatively affected by the townspeople’s reaction to him? This text could be problematic for Christian missionaries who are trying to convince people that Jesus was the Messiah. Would the Messiah be flustered by a negative reaction to his message? Perhaps Mark chose to include this text because Jesus’ experience here is very similar the people of Mark’s community. They, too, were Jews who tried to share with their families and neighbors their new belief that Jesus was the Messiah. Most found criticism and rejection.

1. Who are the people that you hold in esteem? Do they have that position because of their talents? Because of what they have accomplished? Because you know their family?
2. Among those you hold in esteem, are there people who have behaviors sometimes contrary to the socially accepted norms? How is your perception of these people similar to the people of Nazareth described in the text? How is it different?
3. Have you ever felt that family and friends ridiculed you for some of the things that you have pursued? What effect did that have on you at the time? What did that experience teach you about yourself?
4. Mark seems to indicate that Jesus’ ability was affected by the lack of acceptance of the people. How do you understand this aspect of the text? What does it suggest about how God is working in your life, your community and your world today?
5. Do you get any insights from the fact that people, who knew Jesus and his family best, were not able to see in him anything beyond what they already knew?
6. Are there places in your life where people are performing well but are still not held in esteem? Has this ever been the case in your life? What does this gospel suggest to you?

(Comments to Paul at pauljg@mindspring.com.)

Paul Gallagher, OFM
San Damiano Friary
4856 West 29th Street
Cicero, IL 60804
708.656.1022
pauljg@mindspring.com