14th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B - Shame
One of the biggest complaints we always hear about teenagers is that they never listen to their elders. Even if perhaps I'm not so certain the stereotype is all that correct, we all assume that teens will listen to whatever their peers have to say long before they listen to anyone else. As we grow into adulthood though, isn't is amazing how our focus shifts. Now, we believe things whenever we are told by an expert. Aren't we always perfectly ready to accept things as they are….just because that's what we heard on TV. Then, when we hear the story from an actual person, especially someone we know, especially a peer…all too often, we're far more ready to believe the expert, than we ever are to believe someone we know. Just simply ask yourself, what mother hasn't purchased the famous book, "What to expect when you're expecting" and then ask yourself...when things conflict, do you listen to your own mother and friends who have been through it….or the experts?
Today in the Gospel, we hear of how Jesus was rejected by his own people. Those who grew up with him simply could not believe he was something special. Leading up to this in the Gospel, we've been hearing from Mark about the miracles Jesus has been performing. One after another after another, from commanding the storm to stop, to raising the sick daughter of the synagogue official, all of them miraculous events that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there was definitely something very special about this man. Perhaps, they might not yet realize who he truly was, but were certainly astonished at all the marvels he worked, at least they recognized that there was something great about him. Then, after these miracles, he returned to his hometown, and began to teach in the synagogue. Again, the people were astonished at all the things he had to say, but then their reaction was very different.
These people had known Jesus growing up, many of his childhood playmates were probably present. They could only ask where he got all this knowledge, where he got the power to do mighty deeds, because all they could see was the boy they knew growing up, a boy with no visible father, raised by his mother, what would have been a terrible scandal in his day. They simply could not believe that a local boy could do such things.
It's such a familiar Idea, especially today, as we celebrate our nation's independence this weekend. Imagine, when our forefathers signed that declaration of independence, how many doubters there must have been. When we look at our own history, many of our founding fathers were local men, who were upset over how things had been. They, however, had the courage to stand up for what they believed in, and worked together, even amid criticism. They knew they were being treated unfairly and weren't about to fall into the despair of "it's too big...what can we possibly do about it" that so many people around them said. They stood up for what they believed in and said, so what if we fail, it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Even today, with our great American Spirit, when we see a child who wants to be a movie star, a professional athlete, or grow up and become the president, how many times do we tell them that they’ll never make it, it's not worth trying. Even when the local boy or girl really does good, how many times do we hear the criticism….Just who does he think he is???"
When we really stop to think about it, what does that really say about us? Perhaps it could be envy, that deep down we know that we would have loved to have done something great, but it's no longer possible for us. On the other hand, Perhaps it’s the sin of Shame. Perhaps the people really did believe that their town is so small, anyone really worthwhile would come from somewhere else. How easy it is to discourage others, to crush the dreams of others, to believe that no one we know could possibly amount to much, because they're here and deep down we don't believe we amount to much.
Then, it is exactly there that we find the true beauty of the Gospel. As St. Paul told us today, God's grace is made perfect by our weakness. Throughout all of history, God has established a firm pattern of choosing the weak to make them strong. It is often our acknowledgement of those things we lack that can help us to grow. Our admitting where we fail allow us to let God be God, and to strengthen us. Where we are able to admit our faults and failings, we don't make the mistake of believing that when things go right, we did it all on our own. We are able to give to God, what is God, and praise him for whatever we manage to accomplish.
The trouble is when we reach the dark side, when we believe that we're so terrible that even God couldn't be bothered with us. That is true shame, and something that can really cripple us. Sometimes, all we really need is to recognize that it is our humility, our broken-ness that allows God to work in us. Sometimes it's those cracks in our personalities, in our lives, that allow God to come in and to work. As St. Paul tells us today: he would rather boast of his weakness, in order that the Power of Christ may dwell within. For when we are truly open to God's grace, we are strong. When we reject God's grace especially when we feel we're unworthy of it, we find ourselves like the people of Nazareth, where Jesus was unable to perform any might deeds.
Today in the Gospel, we hear of how Jesus was rejected by his own people. Those who grew up with him simply could not believe he was something special. Leading up to this in the Gospel, we've been hearing from Mark about the miracles Jesus has been performing. One after another after another, from commanding the storm to stop, to raising the sick daughter of the synagogue official, all of them miraculous events that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there was definitely something very special about this man. Perhaps, they might not yet realize who he truly was, but were certainly astonished at all the marvels he worked, at least they recognized that there was something great about him. Then, after these miracles, he returned to his hometown, and began to teach in the synagogue. Again, the people were astonished at all the things he had to say, but then their reaction was very different.
These people had known Jesus growing up, many of his childhood playmates were probably present. They could only ask where he got all this knowledge, where he got the power to do mighty deeds, because all they could see was the boy they knew growing up, a boy with no visible father, raised by his mother, what would have been a terrible scandal in his day. They simply could not believe that a local boy could do such things.
It's such a familiar Idea, especially today, as we celebrate our nation's independence this weekend. Imagine, when our forefathers signed that declaration of independence, how many doubters there must have been. When we look at our own history, many of our founding fathers were local men, who were upset over how things had been. They, however, had the courage to stand up for what they believed in, and worked together, even amid criticism. They knew they were being treated unfairly and weren't about to fall into the despair of "it's too big...what can we possibly do about it" that so many people around them said. They stood up for what they believed in and said, so what if we fail, it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Even today, with our great American Spirit, when we see a child who wants to be a movie star, a professional athlete, or grow up and become the president, how many times do we tell them that they’ll never make it, it's not worth trying. Even when the local boy or girl really does good, how many times do we hear the criticism….Just who does he think he is???"
When we really stop to think about it, what does that really say about us? Perhaps it could be envy, that deep down we know that we would have loved to have done something great, but it's no longer possible for us. On the other hand, Perhaps it’s the sin of Shame. Perhaps the people really did believe that their town is so small, anyone really worthwhile would come from somewhere else. How easy it is to discourage others, to crush the dreams of others, to believe that no one we know could possibly amount to much, because they're here and deep down we don't believe we amount to much.
Then, it is exactly there that we find the true beauty of the Gospel. As St. Paul told us today, God's grace is made perfect by our weakness. Throughout all of history, God has established a firm pattern of choosing the weak to make them strong. It is often our acknowledgement of those things we lack that can help us to grow. Our admitting where we fail allow us to let God be God, and to strengthen us. Where we are able to admit our faults and failings, we don't make the mistake of believing that when things go right, we did it all on our own. We are able to give to God, what is God, and praise him for whatever we manage to accomplish.
The trouble is when we reach the dark side, when we believe that we're so terrible that even God couldn't be bothered with us. That is true shame, and something that can really cripple us. Sometimes, all we really need is to recognize that it is our humility, our broken-ness that allows God to work in us. Sometimes it's those cracks in our personalities, in our lives, that allow God to come in and to work. As St. Paul tells us today: he would rather boast of his weakness, in order that the Power of Christ may dwell within. For when we are truly open to God's grace, we are strong. When we reject God's grace especially when we feel we're unworthy of it, we find ourselves like the people of Nazareth, where Jesus was unable to perform any might deeds.
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