Text: Mark 6:1-13:

(Jesus) left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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"(Jesus) left that place and came to his hometown…" (Mk. 6:1)

In this text, Jesus ventures his way to his hometown, Nazareth, for a second time since his baptism at the river Jordan. This is a challenging place for Jesus to go at this time in his life and ministry. The pain of his first visit to Nazareth is still on his tongue. What happens to Jesus that is so painful and troublesome? Do you remember this part of the story? Mysteriously, Mark is the only gospel that contains this haunting text.

Just a few chapters back - Chapter 3:19-21 to be exact - Jesus makes a brief stop into Nazareth, immediately after appointing Twelve companions to accompany him in ministry. The Markan text reads: "Then Jesus went home; and the crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his disciples cold not even eat. And when those close to him (his immediate family) heard it, they went out from Nazareth to seize him, for they said, 'He is beside himself.'" I do not think it takes much of a stretch of our imagination to see that Jesus' household has gone awry. Feeling tension and unresolved conflict in a family system is painful for any human being to bear! Painful indeed! After all, it is the conflict in our own family system that can really wear on one's soul. Those are the ones that remain most paramount through one's adult life. Do you know those conflicts that arise in your household, you know - the ones that seem to creep their way through the back door on an ordinary day - and you ask yourself: "Now, how did I get myself here? How did this mess even begin in the first place?"

How did Jesus get into such a mess as this?

Let's backtrack a bit. Biblical scholars surmise that Jesus' father, Joseph, died when Jesus was a teenager, a profound loss for a child at such a formative time. Such a loss must have led Jesus to a changing role in his household, demanding more responsibility, dependability, and care-taking on Jesus' part. Jesus accepted this role for a significant period of time. He does not appear to be in any hurry to leave home. In today's world, unlike myself I don't think Jesus could be compared to the child who is in a hurry to rush off to college at age 18, but I think Jesus would be more comparable to the child who lives at home, attending community college and working part-time in carpentry to help the family out. It might be said that Jesus had a late rebellion of sorts. Scholars believe that Jesus was about thirty when he left Nazareth. At this time in his life, Jesus chooses to be baptized and begins his traveling ministry, venturing outside the comfort of his hometown, Nazareth.

"On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, 'Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." (Mk. 6:2-4)

Not much time has passed since Jesus left Nazareth. I would imagine Jesus still remembers with clarity the closeness of his friendships back home, … and what it was like living with his mother, and his siblings. I am sure he missed it; but knew that God had a greater mission in mind, which would bring him away from Nazareth. Perhaps Jesus was feeling his life growing stale, staying at home. Perhaps Jesus needed a drastic change in order to grow up, … and to be the person God was calling him to be: a teacher, a prophet, a leader, Son of God!

Jesus was growing in stature, and experience. He was learning to trust his own inner authority, for Here Jesus is! -- in this text -- confidently teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath, knowing it was a direct violation of Jewish law. Yet, Jesus trusted it; for, he was coming into his own as an individual, as a young adult - growing in the image of God.

The people around Jesus immediately recognize the depth of his teaching, and the authority with which he speaks puts them on edge. They say, "How did he get so wise all of a sudden? How did he get such ability? The people in the temple do everything in their power to sabotage Jesus' ministry. They take a stab at anything and everything they can get their hands on, saying: "Is this not that (blue-collar) carpenter (fellow)?" Then, they go straight for the jugular when they say: "(Jesus), where is your family? Are your sisters not here with us?" Notice: this is the question, which elicits response from Jesus.

"Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house."

Can you feel the emotion in Jesus' remark? At this moment, Jesus admits the dissonance he feels with his family system. Surely, it must have been difficult for Jesus to acknowledge the conflict in his very own family. Yet, it was necessary, for it was real in his experience. Thus, it had to be acknowledged! It had to be spoken! Jesus was asked a question, which he desired to answer truthfully.

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This is just one part of the story - Jesus' side of the story. Don't you wonder what is going on for Mary? What was it like for Mary to have her son Jesus spread his wings and leave home? Perhaps it was the fear of empty nest syndrome? Who knows? What we do know - based on these texts - is that Mary has some difficult feelings on the subject of her son, Jesus, leaving home!

It is tough to see a child leave home, for so much of one's life becomes invested, intertwined with flesh and blood. Just this week, I met some acquaintances - Quinn and Christy - the proud new parents of 6-month old twins. I asked: What is life like now as parents? What has changed? Quinn and Christy remarked: "It is indescribable the joy of being a parent." "One thing that changes," Quinn said, "is the pace of life. "Things really begin to slow down. Normal daily tasks and activities take a lot longer… yet with that, I am able to appreciate the many little interactions I have with my children, … and I get to see their many expressions, which give me great joy."

Remember your kids when they were that age? They grow up fast, don't they? It is scary how fast they grow up?

In an article, columnist, George Will, describes his fear as a parent as he begins helping his daughter find a college to attend. Concerning his daughter, Victoria, he writes: For many years/young Victoria, /wearing blue velvet/dresses, will sit/demurely reading/Louisa May Alcott./When she becomes/interested in, and/interesting to, young/men she will be sent/to school at a thick-walled convent/high on a steep mountain overlooking/an inaccessible valley in a remote/region of Portugal.

Though he is being sarcastic, one can most certainly pick up on George Will's fear as a parent, preparing for his daughter to leave for college. This fear is natural for any parent. That "thick-walled convent in Portugal" sounds nice and safe for your child when you consider the chaos and risk that there is in this world. It can be paralyzing.

For Mary, loving Jesus meant setting him free; setting him free to make his own choices in a word of chaos and risk so as to pursue the next step in his life and ministry. Mary had to set him free to do as he wished in spite of her own personal desire to keep him there with her at home in Nazareth. Surely - Jesus must have grieved leaving Nazareth, even though God was calling him elsewhere! After all, there is something to grieve in life with each goodbye, and - at this point in his life - Jesus needed to say "Mother, goodbye for now. I will miss you, but I will see you later!" He needed to for his own health and happiness! He needed to for the world! God had more in mind for Jesus than Nazareth.

George Will aptly writes: "Biologically, adults produce children. Spiritually, children produce adults: most of us do not grow up until we have helped children do so. Thus do the generations form a braided cord."

He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place."(Mk. 6:10)

The spiritual work for Jesus and for Mary is one in the same, just as our spiritual work is one in the same.

In the words of psychologist Erik Erikson, our spiritual work is to "…transfer the state of householdership to the house of God, becoming father and mother, brother and sister, son and daughter, to all creation, rather than our own issue."

How easy it is for us to think and believe that our issue is the most important! It is an easy trap to fall into. Day after day, it is so easy be transfixed on our own problems and the issues that we are passionate about; and gloss over the needs of others, and the greater community around us. It is so easy to simply look out for ourselves, and do whatever we can to keep ourselves safe from pain and suffering no matter the cost.

At this point in the gospel story, Mary and Jesus had some spiritual work to do!

Mary and Jesus have to yield, not simply to their own needs, - but to their higher calling as father and mother, brother and sister, son and daughter, to all creation. This was most certainly a challenge, but much needed for their own health - and for the health and care of all God's creatures.

If Mary had never been able to set Jesus free to follow his call, perhaps his ministry could have been truncated. Perhaps his ministry would have been less potent and impacting.

If Jesus had not made regular visits to see his mother in Nazareth, perhaps his relationship with her would have never been reconciled.

People of God, what is the issue you find surfacing in your life again and again? How might it be getting in the way of your relationships, or getting in the way of offering a truly generative care of the whole of God's creation?

Children of the covenant, God sees you clearly and will equip you with everything you need to yield to your calling from the Holy Spirit. God will not leave you alone. Notice the practical things and the internal resources you are given to do God's work.

"(Jesus) ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics." (Mk. 6:8-10)

I will not recommend any book or resource today that will help you in this spiritual work. For, Jesus says: "Take nothing for your journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in your belts." In other words, Jesus is saying: "Go! You don't need a bunch of stuff to bring with you to do God's work. All the resources you need are with you already! They are in your heart and mind! They are in your soul and in your body! Trust these inner resources of yours." He says: "Wear sandals, but do not wear two tunics." What does this mean for us today; that we not wear two tunics? I think Jesus is saying: "Keep it simple! Unless you are going to San Francisco in the cold, foggy season, do not put on two tunics. In Palo Alto, you do not need to wear layers. One tunic will be just fine! (If Jesus and his disciples were going to San Francisco in the cold, foggy season maybe they would need two tunics.) "

God's grace is sufficient. Although we may see in a mirror dimly, God sees us clearly and welcomes us to the fold in the householdership of God.