A Prophet is not without honor ,,,

When first ordained, I spent a few weeks at my home parish, doing weekday masses, a Sunday Mass each weekend, and the occasional anointing and funeral.  It was a lot of fun to be sure.  But for many of the parishioners at St. Patrick in Rockford, I was Les and Julie's boy, the former altar server, boy scout, and Northwest Journal paperboy.  Admittedly my homilies were always very affirming - they were also very safe!

When Jesus goes home today the townsfolk find him too much for them.  Even more they take offense at his message.  The lack of faith on the peoples part did not disable any healing from Jesus but it did cause distress.  Jesus did what was necessary and moved along.  Or so we come away with that image.  Certainly we might say that familiarity breeds contempt.  But from our perspective can we become so familiar with Jesus, and our faith, that any challenge becomes offensive.


A few years ago our parish leadership wanted to change the format of the Way of the Cross.  The parish had  used the same form for a dozen or more years.  The format that we chose was a lot more reflective, and used chant in the place of readings.  The people were expected to participate more, and to meditate.  The outcry was deafening.  The texts asked for a faith response.  Sometimes we are not ready, or even unwilling to be drawn into a deeper level.


In Mark's Gospel faith is a total commitment to the cross and discipleship.  We cannot 'sort of' be a follower,  or just 'like' Jesus and his message.  His life, mission, and ministry calls for a total commitment and faithfulness on our part.  Otherwise healing and miracles cannot take place.  Our discipleship is a process of listening to His words and responding faithfully to the message of conversion and transformation.


It is much easier to challenge strangers to convert, change, reconcile, enable healing, than it is those close to us.  And yet St. Paul states that within our communities of faith we need to admonish each other in charity, forgive and be forgiven, and assist one another along the journey of faith.  This means that sometime we have to stand up in the midst of the community and be the prophet, pointing out where there is brokenness and injury.  When we recognize Jesus as the Christ, taking heed of his message, than there can be healing and the foundation of peace.  But when we spin his message to suit our needs, or take offense, then we close down the message and the meaning of our faith.


Really hearing the Word of God means that we are open to the possibilities of Jesus in our midst.  The Word made flesh can make us uncomfortable, but in the end can be the source of love and mercy.  Faith means that we come to Jesus like the leper, the woman with the hemorrhage, Jarrius, the man born blind, recognizing we are empty, and Jesus can and will heal us.