Wednesday January 5, 2025

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?

Let’s get right to it: There are a few people in life who will always hold you hostage to what you used to be. Heck there are moments in your own life when you yourself cannot let go of who you used to be. One way of dealing with it is to make the past part of your present, to embrace and grow from it. I think Jesus connected with people because he might have spoken God’s word in carpenter language. He connected with people unlike the Pharisees and scribes.

You know I worked so hard to lose the accent, I wanted to fit in but every time I opened my mouth to speak I would be asked where I am from. At some point I embraced it and leaned into it.. So look again at your upbringing, see it as a gift.

On the other hand, give yourself the gift of growth. You can become so much more.

Now to the fun part. This passage is a problem for Catholics. St Mark says Jesus had brothers and he names them. This was not an issue. Good Catholics say they were his cousins, or half brothers. Do what you want with this information but for me, mother Mary does not become less holy because she had other children. In fact she becomes even holier. Imagine the patience that one has to have to raise a number of children. I only have one child and he gives me a full plate of challenges. I am going straight to heaven because of him.