The Gospel of Mark, chapter 6:4

Today’s gospel passage outlines the difficulties to be faced by anyone who would speak God’s message. The prophet, we learn, will have a rough time among his own people. The message today is much more than an instruction on the difficulties of being a prophet. Rather, the message speaks of our ability to thwart even the powerful love of God! WHAT! Mortals stymieing the Omnipotent? Yes. For even God needs a welcome spirit; even the Son of God needs an open heart.

God always makes the first move. True enough. But, today’s scripture shows that without a hospitable response, we cay parry and we can rebuff the messenger. Why? Although God’s word can turn mountains to dust, it will not crush the human will. Although Jesus’ good news can bring the dead to life, it refuses to kill human freedom. Such is the divine love •for us, a love that respects even our rejection.

Luckily, God’s love for us in Jesus is relentless. It sticks with us through thick and thin, even through rejection and sin. Like Paul’s thorn, it pricks at us, reminding us of its constant presence, waiting for us to wake us up and smell the roses.

More often than not, we say, “Tell me what I want to hear, and don’t confuse me with facts.” We don’t take kindly to someone who might be bold enough to snuff out our selfish expectations as Jesus did in His hometown of Nazareth.

The biggest problem with a negative attitude is not that we miss out on the truth or the facts, but that we miss out on the new and surprising gifts others can give us. Like the townsfolk in today’s gospel story, we too often refuse to allow others to display the talents that can be good news for us.

Today’s scripture calls for hospitality. Hospitality opens the doors of our hearts and minds to the “stranger” among us, no matter how familiar he or she may seem to be. It enables us to accept the gifts of others, and to discover the prophets in our midst, no matter how amazing they may seem to be. Cultivate hospitality, for in doing so you cultivate the good news.

Open me, O God. Fill me with the secret of your hospitality. Bless me with insight into hearts hungry for welcome. Grant that I may never turn away your love, but learn to revel in your embrace, until I share your hospitality forever. Amen.

Fr. Hugh Duffy