Jesus the Healer: Rejected by the Hometown Crowd

Familiarity breeds contempt. ~a well-known saying

Welcome dear friend, to a series on the healing stories of Jesus. The root of the word healing in New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness.  (UM Book of Worship) 

I invite you to enter into a time of Lectio Divina, deep prayer with scripture, as we explore one of the healing stories of Jesus.  Gather your journal if you have one, your bible and something to write with or simply use your computer, I've provided everything you need.

The saying, "familiarity breeds contempt," means that sometimes when we get close to people, when we know them really well we have looked closely enough to find their flaws and weaknesses.  In most cases this doesn't bother us for we have flaws and weaknesses too.  But just let that person get ahead of us and we'll do anything to tear them down OR at least to level the playing field.  I guess that is often our human condition.  It happens.  In our passage for this week this saying came to me immediately as I began to read deeply.  In this Jesus story I think  the people just were not able to grasp that someone who grew up in such an ordinary way as Jesus did, could actually be so "extraordinarily gifted," a renowned healer.  Go figure!  Their questions do not bring them wisdom or deepen their faith because they were not real questions, they were a sarcastic commentary.  Perhaps jealousy has brought them to that place of contempt, which means, "feeling that a person or thing is beneath consideration."  Their prejudice against Jesus robbed them of healing, blessing and good will.  Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.  

What a fascinating passage this one is!  It invites me to think about the role of belief and unbelief in miracles and the healing process.  And that makes me uncomfortable because I don't really believe that we are "rewarded" for our beliefs ... I don't really believe that the spiritual life can be envisioned as a score card or that God is the big vending machine in the sky, answering our prayers depending on how much or how often or how beautifully we pray. I have known way too many good, faithful, believing followers of Christ who did not receive the miracle they so desperately sought, and that I thought they deserved to get. Sometimes, I see their faith growing ever deeper through their "unsuccessful" experience, and they grow closer to God.  Here is what I do believe, however.  I believe that prayer, meditation, and a positive attitude can help or hinder our own natural healing process.  In this case, perhaps they were unable to receive what Jesus was offering because they just couldn't open themselves to the possibilities.   So ... what do you believe?  Let us offer what we believe, our real questions, our struggles and our doubts to God with open hearts and minds so we can hear what God is saying to us through this passage.  

Take a moment to begin with a "Breath Prayer."

Breathing in ... Healing Jesus

Breathing out ... I believe!  Help my unbelief!

Repeat your breath prayer until you feel relaxed and centered

Pray for illumination of the text, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:   Healing Jesus, sometimes I falter.  Sometimes, I am guilty of doubts and unbelief.  Sometimes, rather than struggle I give up with the words, "it must be God's will."  Help me in my struggles to continue to keep the faith and open up to the possibilities of healing in situations I think are impossible.   Amen.

1.  Lectio/Read:   Mark 6:1-6 (NET)

As you read, perhaps there is a word or phrase that will draw you to it.  Pay attention to the questions the hometown crowd are asking.  Listen to their doubts.  Be still and listen to your own doubts  How is God drawing your attention into this passage?  Simply sit with your word or phrase and be grateful.

Now Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And so they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house.” He was not able to do a miracle there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then he went around among the villages and taught.

14th-century fresco from the Visoki Decani Monastery, Kosovo, Serbia (public domain)

 2. Meditatio/Meditation 

Read the text a second time.  You may find that the same word or phrase has energy for you, but you may also find that another word has become more alive with meaning.  Pay attention to the energy emanating from within the passage and consider how it illuminates your life right now.  Is God calling you to deepen your faith and your prayers for healing?  If so, take your word or phrase and write freely for as you are being drawn.  Pay special attention to how God is speaking to you about your doubts and your belief.  Don't think about what you are writing as you let God lead you deeper.

3. Oratio/Pray  Read the text a third time.  Then read your own writing if you wrote anything.  Are there any connections you can make between what you read and the writing that flowed from your reading?  How do you respond to what you perceive God is saying to you?   How does this passage call upon you to let go of doubts you may have and believe more deeply in the healing grace of Jesus in your life and the lives of others?   What do you want to say to God about what you are hearing?  Take a moment to write again in your journal or on your computer as a prayer in response to what you have heard.

 

4. Contemplatio/Contemplation
Take a moment to pause.  Allow your breath prayer to emerge again.  You can use the same one from the beginning or perhaps a new one will emerge for you.  As you continue to pray, let the words fade away into silence. Spend time simply "be"ing with God.

Breathing in ... Healing Jesus
Breathing out ... Immerse my lingering doubts in your grace
Repeat your breath prayer until it fades into silence ...

Allow your experience of praying with this healing story of Jesus to come to a close when you are ready to move on.  Let the Spirit lead you and guide you into the presence of God as you engage your life as a loving and healing presence to others.

Close with a prayer to send yourself into the world, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:  Oh Healing Jesus, I am amazed at your grace and mercy.  Help me overcome any doubts I may have about your love as I meditate in the stillness.  Help me see the miracles you bring to life every day.  Amen.

My Friend Thomas: When Doubts lead to Deep Faith

Christ the Lord is Risen!  Christ the Lord is Risen indeed!

Icon of the Risen Christ

Easter Sunday is only the beginning ... the beginning of new life!  While the Journey of Lent is a turn inward, a time to reflect and examine oneself, the 7-week Journey of Easter is an outward movement culminating on the Day of Pentecost.  The Journey is filled with "appearances" of the risen Christ who offers "shalom "...  which means peace, not just calm in one's own soul but the communal peace, harmony, and love of God's people living with one another through good times and bad. 

It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.”  Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.”  Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came.  ( John 20:19-24 CEB)

The Easter "season" is a time to consider how God is calling us as disciples of the risen Christ to reach out to all people with the same love and compassion that Jesus the Suffering Servant has showed to us through his life, death and resurrection. For me, the discordant "if you don't forgive" is troubling but I do realize that there is transcendence in the authentic human community who live in "shalom" that moves beyond the pettiness, often in God's Name, we see in some communities against those who are "not like us."  

As we drop in to this passage, I smile a little smile, like I always do, at that last line ... "Thomas ... wasn't with the disciples when Jesus came."   I am a person who tends to run late.  Just last night I arrived at a meeting across town about 10 minutes late and one of the kindest persons said, "I'm sorry.  Did you get lost?"  Obviously she doesn't know me very well!  I said, "No.  I'm just late."   Unfortunately, also just like Thomas I'm also a skeptic.  And yet, I hope I am also like Thomas in that my deepest faith emerges from my doubt.  Have you ever had doubts?  And where did your doubts lead you? 

As you prepare your heart to receive the Word of God, remember times when you had doubts and remember how your faith overcame your doubts ... If you are still in a time of doubt, how is that currently shaping your faith.  Take a few moments to engage in a breath prayer to center yourself:

Breathe in ... O Holy One (pause)
Breathe out ... Live through my doubts (pause)


When you are ready to move into this week's focus text, pray this prayer of illumination and consent to God's presence guiding you ...

Risen Lord Christ, open my heart to the power of your resurrection.  As read the words of Scripture, walk with me and allow me to receive the Holy Spirit so I might live in grace and peace, within myself and with others.  Amen.

As you move into this week's text ... John 20:25-31
Step 1: Lectio … Reading
Read the passage silently to yourself, slowly and reverently, letting the words steep in your mind.
Listen for a word or phrase that catches your attention.  Gently focus on that word or phrase.  Repeat it several times and allow it to be sifted through your heart and mind all the way to your soul.

The other disciples told [Thomas] “We’ve seen the Lord!”  But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.”   After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!”  Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”   Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll.  But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.

Step 2: Meditatio … Receiving
Read the passage a 2nd time ... 
Continue to focus on your word or phrase (it may be different)
Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings the passage evokes.
What images emerge in your imagination?
What memories come to your mind?
Ask God to continue to speak to you through this word.
Listen for God’s reply as you move through your day

Step 3: Oratio … Responding
Consider any desires that have been awakened by your prayer.
Perhaps you have found an area of your life that needs attention.
Do not rush ... wait and listen as God forms your prayers and desires

Step 4: Contempatio … Resting
Allow yourself to rest in the silence.
Allow your mind to settle into the silence.
When you feel the time to move on ...

Pray … Holy One of God!  Overcome my doubts and let me believe in you. Overcome my doubts and let me know you.  Overcome my doubts and let Your Spirit live within me.  Overcome my doubts and let me live in Your Presence for all of eternity.  Amen