Every day we go through life with preconceived notions and assumptions regarding the way we think of other people and the way in which we think events and situations might occur or ought to occur. These beliefs shape us and have an astounding impact on our perceptions of and reactions to the world around us, often without us even being aware of this influence. Isaac Asimov, when talking about preconceived notions and assumptions, once said, “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” I think that is great advice and something all of us need to heed. It is also great advice to keep in mind when looking at today’s gospel reading. Quite frankly, the power of God is always breaking through and shattering our assumptions. This is true today and it was true for Jesus when he began his ministry.
The writer of Mark’s gospel tells us Jesus has begun a ministry of healing people, casting out demons and proclaiming this new way of being and understanding of God. He has been traveling around and ministering to all kinds of people who did not know him, and they have been marveling at what God is doing. So today, we find Jesus making his way back home to Nazareth. Jesus’ visit to his hometown is not a social call for the purpose of visiting friends and family. He comes back to Nazareth to teach a new understanding of the nature of God, to proclaim who he is and invite others to share in this mission. He begins teaching in the synagogue, teaching to people who do know him and, at first, they are amazed by what he says. But then, he is quickly met with disdain and rejection by his hometown neighbors and friends. They begin saying, “He’s just a carpenter – Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” The people in his hometown do not know where Jesus has gotten such power or wisdom. Jesus shatters their assumptions and preconceived notions about him because he, this person they have known their entire lives, is not what they expected in a prophet, let alone a messiah. Quite frankly, it is their knowledge of Jesus that keeps them from really knowing him and benefiting from what he is saying and doing. And, to accept him as a prophet or messiah would mean calling into question much of what they thought they knew about the world, about people and about themselves.
As we look at the remarkable events of the past several weeks within our own culture, I have to ask, could today’s gospel reading serve as a warning to all who assume they really know Jesus? In light of some of the callousness and hurt that has been shown to those considered “other,” and in light of the hatred we have seen espoused by people who call themselves “Christian,” what does this say to any of us who assume we have the correct answers and, in our certainty, think we know the mind of God? Far too often, we who are part of communities of faith assume God fits into our preconceived boxes and notions of God, and we are slow to accept anything that challenges our deeply embedded assumptions. And, it is so difficult to talk about or talk with those who are different from us because of our sense of surety and our preconceived assumptions. Whether people are different in terms of age, occupation, economic status, race, country of origin, ethnicity or sexual orientation, we tend to have a construct about how people should be and, when we meet someone who differs from that construct, we tend to find it threatening. Consequently, it is so very difficult for us to see Jesus in any we categorize as “other.” And, far too often, we try to mold Jesus into our image of what we think Jesus should be, a Jesus who we are comfortable with, a Jesus who will not challenge our assumptions, a Jesus who looks and acts like us. I am reminded of something theologian, John Dominic Crossan, once said - “Beware of finding a Jesus entirely congenial to you.”
When Jesus went back to Nazareth he proclaimed the good news of God’s presence and he shattered people’s assumptions and preconceived notions about him. They tried to dismiss his proclamation and they rejected him. And, the truth the matter is, this story is about us. All too often, we are tempted to do the same, to reject Jesus as we dismiss and reject those who challenge our thinking. We often dismiss others, reject them and thereby fail to receive the totality of the person God has created and redeemed, the person who is offered to us as a gift. And, when we cannot see God in those we consider “other,” it becomes even more difficult for us to have honest and necessary conversations about prejudice, bigotry and racism, because our assumptions are challenged. It is frightening to talk about perceived changing moral values that test assumptions we have held for many years. We want to keep things the same, gather with those who look and think like us, and draw the boundaries a little tighter around those we think are “in” and those we think are “out.” Yet, we know that this is not what God calls us to do. This God in whom we believe is one who welcomes all with immeasurable grace, mercy and love. And, the truth of the matter is, every time we try to draw a line between who we think is “in” and who is “out,” we will find Jesus on the other side of the line.
Yes, when Jesus was rejected by his own friends and neighbors, it was their knowledge of him that kept them from really knowing him and benefiting from what he was saying and doing. This story of Jesus’ own rejection at Nazareth sets up the mission of the twelve disciples. This experience points to what in Mark’s Gospel appears to be the preparation of the Twelve for what might be a mixed reception as they are sent out on a mission to spread the good news of God’s love for all. The disciples are warned: “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.” When Jesus says this, we cannot help but be reminded of what Jesus has just experienced in Nazareth. Nevertheless, just as Jesus persists in his work by healing and curing even “a few sick people” amid the “unbelief” of the people of Nazareth, the disciples are commanded to persist in their own work in his name. Just as Jesus keeps on loving and healing, the disciples are to do the same. And, the message for each of us in our mission is that we are not held responsible for the response to our mission in Christ’s name, but only for our own faithfulness to Christ’s mission in this world. With such assurance, we can witness boldly and faithfully as we live into our baptismal vocation and bear Christ’s creative and redeeming word to the world, a word this world desperately needs to hear!
Today’s gospel reading reminds us that we, in whatever our context, are called to continue witnessing to the One who welcomes all, the one who loves all, the one who shows grace and mercy to all. Today’s reading reminds us that this Jesus is never going to fit into any box we create for him based on our assumptions. This Jesus who willingly went to the cross because of God’s love for this world, totally shattered all assumptions about what a messiah should look like and do. And, just maybe, Jesus continues shattering our preconceived notions and assumptions, our “windows on the world,” scrubbing them off so we can more clearly see the light of God’s love and grace.