07 Jul SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2024

People sometimes refuse to see you for who you have become. They can’t get over how you’re different from how they remember you, how you may have changed for the better, that you are now more than they estimated you could ever be. 

Remember, I’m from a small town, too, where expectations precede you and reputations follow you. With regard to expectations, women of my generation weren’t expected to accomplish much. Children, in general, were rewarded for being compliant and not causing trouble. Only a handful of students were chosen for academic coursework geared toward college. Younger generations followed the footsteps of elder siblings, parents, or grandparents. So we get what’s happening in Jesus’ hometown, don’t we?

After hearing Jesus, Mark writes, “many were astounded,” which means they were either shocked or greatly surprised. As of the present moment, the many recognized the depth of Jesus’ teaching; they acknowledged that Jesus had gained real wisdom. They even testified to deeds of power done by his hands. 

So what were they shocked or greatly surprised about? That it was Jesus, and not they, able to demonstrate these terrific attributes. Their shock and amazement displays how ignorant they were of what had been happening out of view. Just how DID Jesus come to be this way? What opportunities came his way that passed us by? 

They used to identify with Jesus. He was one of us. After all, he was raised just down the street. He attended the same school we did. His brothers and sisters were in our classes or with our siblings. Come to think of it, don’t his parents still live in the same house? Who does he think he is to return home with a bunch of followers, enter on the sabbath and begin to teach in our synagogue? 

Did they just seriously underestimate Jesus? Perhaps so. I mean, surely, a person amounts to no more than a product of their environment or upbringing, right? This is how they considered their own potential and self worth. Those who were astounded didn’t doubt what Jesus could in fact do; they doubted that a person could develop beyond the place they came from. At the very least, they should not act differently than the expectations projected upon them or the reputations of those who precede them.

Anyone who challenges the status quo is a type of prophet because they take on a distinct role that tends to separate them from peers. They no longer identify with “regular folk” or are seen as counting as one of them. And unfortunately, being different than what people expect you to be and acting different than how people expect you to act, causes some to take offense. Think about how often we disappoint others or are disappointed ourselves due to our own unrealistic expectations or by the fact that we fail to give someone else credit.  

If people refuse to believe in you, you certainly are left with little to do and no power to lead.

And what Jesus says is true. If people refuse to believe in you, you certainly are left with little to do and no power to lead. Being rejected in your hometown, among your own kin, or in your own house hurts worse than anything, especially when you feel called and know that God has empowered you to serve in a professional capacity. The answer is to move on. Don’t stay and be frustrated trying in vain to convince a bunch of unbelievers. 

This is the same teaching for disciples. Jesus gives them authority over unclean spirits as their calling card, the thing that was their provision from God who would enable them to accomplish what they were asked to do when sent out two by two. Jesus didn’t send  out his disciples alone. If others failed to believe in them, at least they would have each other. 

Jesus ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, a stick used for balance when walking which can also be used in self-defense. No bread, no bag, no money in their belts. Wear sandals, but not two tunics. 

Regardless of the airline’s policy “Two bags fly free,” the disciples were to take no carry-ons except a staff, no checked luggage or snacks for their journey. They were dependent upon how they were received. And they were to stay where they were welcomed until time to leave.

Wherever they were not welcome or were refused to be heard, they were to leave and shake off the dust on their feet as a testimony against them. In other words, they were not to take offense or hold any bitterness. They were to carry forward no unfinished business or resentment. Make a clean break so nothing feels like a wound, so nothing feels taken from you and in every way, you are not stuck carrying any negative residue. 

Jesus didn’t say for them to leave your sandals there, just shake off the dust and keep walking. 

Doing so freed them to go out and proclaim that all should repent, to cast out many demons, to anoint with oil many who were sick and cure them. If you haven’t experienced it already, there will come a time, or another time, when you will be called to act beyond your own capabilities. When you will be given authority and whatever else you need to journey as you are sent. 

That may entail teaching or preaching, challenging others’ current beliefs, upsetting the status quo, caring for the sick, or casting out demons. Casting out demons represents immediate rapid delivery of others from oppression, from forces that incapacitate or possess them, from whatever drives their destructive thoughts and behaviors, whatever causes them personal dysfunction or their entire family to malfunction. 

Take encouragement from this inclusive paraphrasing of Ezekiel 2:1-5 which I have geared toward chaplaincy, but which applies to anyone called to speak prophetically, which just means as inspired by God. [A voice] said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 

Note what happens next.  “The voice speaks, a spirit enters and sets the mortal on their feet.” The mortal did not have to stand up on their feet before being spoken to. The Holy Spirit readies the mortal being. Then, “The mortal hears the voice speaking which addresses them personally saying, “Mortal, listen up. I am sending you to people who may or may not listen. Regardless, I want you to say whatever I simultaneously lay upon your heart, mind and spirit. Not only what you think or feel, but what aligns with both of those inner parts of you through the work of my Holy Spirit. 

Whether they hear or refuse to hear, whether they welcome or believe you, doubt or dismiss you, they shall come to know at least this: that there was one whom God sent who came a calling, who was brave enough to show up and be present among them.

It’s not easy to repeatedly make yourself vulnerable and be exposed to rejection, but that is the call of a disciple. It is a continuous journey where we will have some success and some disappointment. But we are to let disappointment go, to not take offense or hold onto bitterness. We are to carry forward no unfinished business or resentment, making a clean break so that nothing feels like a wound, nothing feels taken from us and in every way, we will not be stuck carrying negative residue. 

This is easier said than done, to just shake off the dust and keep walking. I know, I’ve been walking for nearly twenty years beyond things that caused me injury. I think rather than shake the dust off my sandals, I stored those sandals, dust and all, in their original shoebox. And then I proceeded to move the box with me numerous times. 

Every now and then I look at those sandals. I might even try them on, but for some reason, I won’t take them outside and brush the dust off or go to the sink and use that old toothbrush sitting on the counter ledge in the crevices of their soles. What is it about emotional pain that causes us to not let go of it??? 

Perhaps it’s because we wish it never happened. We wish to undo what can’t be undone. Jesus said, “There’s no convincing those who have made up their mind or those who choose to withhold something from you that you were seeking.” Many times I have to start singing, “Let it go,” from Frozen to stop myself from wanting to change how people think, a thing we never have control of. 

What did the psalmist say? “To you I lift up my eyes, to you enthroned in the heavens. As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to you, O Lord our God, until you show us your mercy.” Many times in the psalms, you’ll notice that a first person perspective changes to a collective voice. This is an attempt to say that whatever applies to me, also applies to the majority of us. 

The psalmist continues by saying, “Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, for we have had more than enough of contempt, scorn and derision.” Like the disciples, the psalmist too, needs to let go of feeling disrespected, unacknowledged, deprived of credit, disliked, unappreciated, made fun of and/or rejected. 

Finally listen again to what Paul tells the Corinthians paraphrased by me to make sense of it as advice for all of us, “The grace of Christ the Lord (which is given by God) is sufficient for you. For the power of Christ in you is made perfect in weakness. So, boast all the more gladly of your weaknesses, so that more power of Christ may dwell in you. Be content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ.” 

I would add, don’t be content or possess them, let them and your memory of them go, but remember this: Whenever you are weak or have been weak, then you are strong, were strong or will become strong through one and only one thing: the power of Christ who dwells in you for the very same sake of Christ. Let us pray.

Jesus, you gave your disciples authority and have also given us what it takes to do great things in your name. For your sake, you want people to experience delivery from emotional injury, physical harm, and mental anguish. Help us not to torture or ridicule ourselves or others. May we speak only what is inspired by you and your Holy Spirit. We want to stand on our feet and be able to listen and hear your voice. In your holy name we pray, Amen.