Ez 2:2-5
2 Cor 12:7-10
Mk 6:1-6

Acceptance

The readings for this Sunday’s liturgy are a call to listen to God and respond to God even when those around us do not. In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel is sent to prophesy but knows that his message may be ignored. In the second reading, Paul knows he has been blessed but speaks of the “thorn in the flesh” given to him. He trusts in Christ to use his weaknesses for good. In the gospel, Jesus is rejected by the people in his home town because they see him as a “local boy.”

This gospel shows what might be considered the typical pattern of Jesus’ ministry. He teaches in the local synagogue and then performs acts of healing. In this gospel, Jesus goes to the local synagogue and the people in his hometown of Nazareth are amazed by what they hear and see. They cannot understand how someone they know so well might have so much to offer. The townspeople and his relatives know Jesus as the carpenter, the son of Mary, but they do not have the faith to know the real Jesus as the Son of God.

We know that the experience of Jesus not being accepted or understood by his neighbors is not something new in society. It is common even today that someone who looks different than we do, or who has what some would call a menial job, or who is a migrant are not accepted as friends or neighbors. This is not how Jesus saw people. He accepted the tax collectors, sinners, women, disabled persons, even his enemies.

We need to pay attention to the Gospel Acclamation that tells us, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for [the Spirit] sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.” We can expand that to say we include the poor and all people – the gay, Black, migrant, homeless people, anyone with whom we come in contact. We have to be open to all God’s people in order to bring the Good News of Jesus to them in our attitudes, words and deeds.

For the times we have not been open to all God’s people, we can pray fervently the words of the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm. “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.” Our God is always a forgiving God. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness and try to be open and accepting in the future of all people to the best of our ability. Over and over again!

How accepting am I of people considered different from me?

In what ways can I become more open and accepting of others?