Scripture Reading:  Mark 6: 7-13   He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but
to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 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.’ So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

What would happen if we were to share the gospel in the way that Jesus sent his disciples? According to this text, all they had to rely on was Jesus’ authority, the kindness of strangers, and each other.

In our day and culture, we probably wouldn’t get very far. People would probably see us as irresponsible, or think that we were taking advantage of other people by expecting them to provide for us. But even though times have changed, and we don’t honor the tradition of hospitality in the way it was done in Jesus’ culture, I think that Christ’s message to “travel light”, and to rely on God’s authority and grace for our ministries, is still valid. What’s more, there’s powerful evidence that the belief that God’s grace is really enough, and that we can share the mission, is alive and well in our own congregation. We have seen it in the preparations for the Mission Trip to El Salvador, in the way in which a variety of ministries, and countless individuals and families, have contributed time and resources for this mission.

In the run-up for the Trip, the Sunday School children and teachers have donated beautifully hand painted T shirts. In that same spirit, one of the committees of the church transferred some of their “own” funds to the Mission Trip, another committee held a bake sale, and a musical group, and other gifted musicians, dedicated their time and talents to fund-raiser and fellowship events. This is a powerful witness to the fact that we can“travel light” by sharing our possessions, and by holding one another up. The result has been nothing but amazing. Even Christ’s instruction to depend
on the kindness of strangers held true, because a group of high school students from the community added their contribution: a large sum of money that they had raised.

In this way we have been privileged to “live” the very message that we have been sent to announce.

In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Ana

Scripture Reading:     Mark 6: 1-6   He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. 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! 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 offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Dear friends,

One of the experiences that leave their mark on our spirit is rejection. Rejection by one’s family has to be very high on that list. Rejection of one’s work is very hard.  Rejection by one’s peers ranks up high too. This story of Jesus in Nazareth is about rejection.  It’s very likely that Jesus was not expecting his hometown to react to him the way it did. We can imagine that this experience would enter deep in his soul. But, how did he respond? By looking at this passage, and seeing how our Lord responded, we
can get some directions for dealing with experiences of rejection in our own lives.

Just as Jesus didn’t question who he was, or give up the mission that God had given him, we can let God determine our worth. In spite of a rejection, we can go on to live in a purposeful way. Just as Jesus – even in Nazareth – reached out to touch and heal people in need, we too can reach out and share God’s love faithfully with others. Just as Jesus continued with his life’s mission by going on to the other towns and villages, so we too can live with a sense of mission and keep right on serving God in our daily lives.

Dealing with rejection is something we are all faced with at one time or another. How wonderful it is, therefore, to remember that Jesus who experienced rejection by his own neighbors, will never reject anyone who comes to him with an open heart.

In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Ana

Scripture Reading:   Mark 6:1-6    He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. 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! 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 offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

My dear friends,

When Jesus comes home to Nazareth, and reads the scroll that is handed to him in his old village synagogue, his neighbors sneer at him. They wonder where he got that wisdom to interpret it the way he does. Isn’t he just a carpenter, the son of Mary? They raise questions that are sarcastic and hurtful.

What’s so devastating about the prejudices and unbelief of Jesus’ own town folks, is that they effectively blocked Jesus’ full ministry to them. Yes, he lays his hands on some of his acquaintances, and he heals some of them, but he can’t work any great miracle. They are not willing to be open to the presence and power of God in Jesus, and so nothing will really happen. Nothing will change. No new life will emerge in their situation.

What’s also devastating is that when they rejected Jesus, these neighbors dishonored not just him. They dishonored themselves. They missed out on the huge blessing of God’s healing, strengthening, and empowering grace in their lives.  They remained small.

Today, let us welcome Jesus. Let us not only honor him but honor ourselves as well, by opening ourselves up to the working of his grace in our lives.

In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Ana