This Week in the Liturgical Year

First Reading
Ezekiel 2:2-5
The Lord sends the prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites.

Psalm
Psalm 123:1-2,3-4
A prayer to God for mercy

Second Reading
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Paul bears insults and weakness for the sake of Christ.

Gospel
Mark 6:1-6
Jesus is rejected in his hometown.

Background on the Gospel
This Gospel immediately follows upon last week's stories of the raising of Jairus's daughter and the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage. It sets the context of our Gospel readings for the next two weeks in which Jesus will extend the work of his ministry to his disciples.

Today's Gospel describes what many believe to have been the typical pattern of Jesus' ministry: teaching in the synagogue followed by acts of healing. In his hometown of Nazareth, the people are amazed by what they hear, but they also cannot comprehend how someone they know so well might move them so powerfully.

In this Gospel, we learn some interesting details about Jesus and his early life. Jesus' kinfolk know him to be a carpenter, an artisan who works in wood, stone, and metal. He probably learned this trade from his father. Family members of Jesus are also named. Mark describes Jesus as the son of Mary, which is an unusual designation. Adult males were more typically identified with the name of their fathers. It is unclear why Mark deviates from this custom.

Brothers and sisters of Jesus are also named. Scholars are divided on how to interpret this. As Catholics, we believe that Mary was and remained always a virgin, thus we do not believe that this Gospel refers to other children of Mary. Some have suggested that these family members might be Joseph's children from a previous marriage, but there is little evidence to support this. Others explain this reference by noting that the words brother and sister were often used to refer to other types of relatives, including cousins, nieces, and nephews.

This Gospel tells us that Jesus is hampered from performing miracles in Nazareth because of the people's lack of faith. Jesus is said to be surprised by this. He did not predict or foresee this rejection. In this detail we find a description of the very human side of Jesus.

This passage unfolds a continuing theme of Mark's Gospel: Who is Jesus? His kinfolk in Nazareth might know the carpenter, the son of Mary, but they do not know Jesus, the Son of God. Mark is foreshadowing Jesus' rejection by his own people, the people of Israel. He is also reflecting on and trying to explain the situation of the community for which he wrote. While many of the first Christians were Jewish, Christianity took hold and flourished in the Gentile community. Mark's community was mostly a Gentile community, who may have been experiencing persecution. By showing that Jesus himself was rejected, Mark consoles and reassures his first readers. He also prepares us to accept this possible consequence of Christian discipleship.
 

Family Connection
Our family plays an important role in shaping us and forming our self-identity. In family life, we find a safe place to discover who we are and who God calls us to be. But sometimes the influences from outside our family can make us unrecognizable to those who know us best. These outside influences can lead us away from God, or they can lead us toward a deeper relationship with God. In today's Gospel, we see that the people of Nazareth could not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. They could know him only as the son of Mary. We hope that through our family life we will be encouraged to filter the many influences on our lives through the lens of faith so that we will become the person that God calls us to be.As you gather as a family, talk about the people and events that are influencing members of your family. Acknowledge that many of these people and events are positive influences, helping us be better people and leading us to a deeper relationship with God. Also acknowledge, however, that there are negative influences in our lives that risk pulling us away from God. Observe that Jesus was a person who allowed his relationship with God to be the most important thing in his life. This led many people to have faith in him as the Son of God. However, not everyone could recognize this about Jesus. Read today's Gospel, Mark 6:1-6. Ask: Who does not recognize Jesus as God's Son in this Gospel? (some of his kinfolk in Nazareth) Observe that because of the people's lack of faith, Jesus could not perform many miracles in Nazareth. Conclude by praying together that our families will continue to help us follow God in our lives. Pray together the Prayer for Vocations.