Wednesday, February 4, 2004
4th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: 2S 24:2, 9-17
Gospel: Mk 6:1-6

Jesus returned to his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath came, he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of those who heard him were astonished. They commented, "How did this come to him? What kind of wisdom has been given to him that he also performs such miracles? Who is he but the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joset and Judas and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here among us?" So they took offense at him.

And Jesus said to them, "Prophets are despised only in their own country, among their relatives and in their own family." And he could work no miracles there, but only healed a few sick people by laying his hands on them. Jesus himself was astounded at their unbelief. Jesus then went around the villages teaching.

Commentary

I know a carpenter who organizes meditation retreats and even brings teachers half way around the world to lead them. One of those teachers, speaking to me about my friend, said, "That's the way to live! No one has ever told him his limitations, and so he just goes ahead and does wonderful things!" No one ever said to him, "Carpenters only do carpentry." Or perhaps they did and he refused to believe them. Then he is either very lucky or very strong. Jesus was not so lucky, but he was strong. The villagers wanted to keep him within his limitations: he was a carpenter and the son of a carpenter. But he "broke through their midst and went his way" (Lk 4:30).

We have to break through the midst of many things in order to become adult Christians. Many people, even in the Church, will try to keep us in a pre-adult state. Childhood as a complete ideal doesn't work for most people. Yes, Jesus said we must be like children: we must have their qualities of simplicity, honesty, freshness. "Like children," he said. Like my friend, who does wonderful things. We must be adults who are like children, not children who are like adults. [see February 1]

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