Today’s gospel narrates another interesting episode in the life of Jesus. The three gospel writers, Mark, Matthew and Luke wrote about the same incident, some with more details and preceding events than others. Today we reflect on Mark’s version found in the opening verses (1-6) of chapter 6. This is the story when Jesus pays a visit to his hometown in Nazareth, and has a chance to preach in their synagogue on the Sabbath, in his usual eloquent and amazing style. However, his kababayans – though they are amazed at his depth of preaching – are not impressed and cynically put him down saying: “Where did this man get these things? He’s just a carpenter! He’s Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. Who does he think he is?” Apparently, they had judged Him in their minds beforehand, and had already tagged Him as unworthy of their attention.
Jesus was not surprised, because He knew beforehand that he would not be received well by his kababayans, by his townfolks. In fact, He later declared to His disciples, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.”
Maybe you’ve actually not experienced this kind of negative talk against you, but you’re probably aware of the possibility that this kind of negative talk among your circle of peers, coworkers, or maybe even friends and family might occur. Sadly, there are people who have hang-ups and insecurities, and who are threatened by other’s efforts to excel or to do good, that instead of being inspired to also do good and to excel themselves, they would rather bring down or put down those well-meaning people. Just like in the story of the people in Nazareth, they would miss out on a very very good thing because of their bias or disbelief.
First off, I hope you’re not one of those who put down others for trying to do good. Anyway, today I won’t speak about that kind of character problem. Rather, I’d like to speak about those of who, like Jesus, want to do right, want to say the right thing, but who face the possible displeasure or contempt of others whose opinions you value.
There are several cases where this would apply.
DO YOU WEAR YOUR FAITH IN YOUR SLEEVE, OR ARE YOU GUARDED?
Let’s say you’re in a gathering among friends to celebrate a happy occasion. Or maybe one of your friends talks about a troubled situation, maybe an illness or problem. Whatever. Would you offer to stop everything for a moment and invite everyone to join you in a prayer? Or would you rather pray silently than to be tagged as being holier than thou?
You may be an employee and you observe a practice in the office which you believe is not morally acceptable. Would you speak the truth to your manager, or to your manager’s manager and point out a better way? Or would you be quiet and not want to be judged as too self-righteous?
Of all your circle of family, friends, former classmates, officemates, including all your friends and followers in your social media account, how many of them have actually read or heard you speak a word of godly wisdom, or sacred scripture, or holy blessing? Are you selective about whom you proclaim the good news to? Do you wear your faith on your sleeve, or do you keep it hidden when you’re in front of other people who don’t know that part about you?
If you are in a similar situation like these, I believe that this story from Mark will give you great encouragement learning about the way Jesus dealt with the criticisms and the put-downs of his own townsfolks. You see that even if Jesus knew beforehand that He was not going to be received well, Jesus went anyway. He spoke in the synagogue anyway. Jesus wasn’t aiming for popularity. He was reaching out, and like the farmer in His parable, He was sowing seed on rocky ground.
Mark says, Jesus could not do much there, because the people didn’t expect Him to do anything. But He went anyway. So, what is the gospel trying to tell us here? I think we can draw two simple lessons of encouragement and hope from this.
DO GOOD ANYWAY — YOUR MISSION IS TO SOW SEEDS even on rocky ground
First, let us not focus on the results of our good works. But rather, let us focus on doing the good work no matter the consequence. Whether you are fruitful or not, or whether you will be condemned, do good anyway.
Second. Though people would reject and judge you; it is not you alone that they judge. It is Jesus whom they judge. Take consolation in knowing that you are not accountable to anyone else but Jesus; and if you follow Him and do as He would do, you will receive the rewards of a faithful servant. After all, your duty as a servant is to obey and to do the will of God.
Several times in the bible you will read similar instructions and encouragement. Prov 3:27 reads: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” Paul writes to the Galatians (6:9), saying: “Do not grow weary of doing good.” And to the Thessalonians, he writes the exact same thing: “Do not grow weary in doing good.” (2 Thes 3:13)
You see, brothers and sisters, our duty is to sow the seeds, is to speak the good news, is to do the good that God has called us to do. That’s it. Let’s not hesitate because we’re worried about the consequences, or the potential rejection, or the possible push back, or the indifference. Let’s simply trust that the Lord will act on the results that He has planned beforehand.
And you know what, my friends? The story about the visit of Jesus to Nazareth does not end there. Mark says that Jesus laid his hands anyway on a few sick people and healed them. Apparently, some people did come to Jesus and asked for His healing mercy. For those people, Jesus made a difference in their lives. Mission accomplished.
In the same way, may your light shine before others.
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