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Columba Comments...
Short reflections written by members of our
congregation
5 July 2009
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Scripture: Mark 6.1-13
Exploration
A balanced, healthy
church nurtures three kinds of relationship—with God, with each
other, and with the wider community. Today’s Gospel deals with the
third of these relationships.
Mark relates two stories. First, how Jesus came to bring good news
to his home town, and was unwelcome. Second, a story of Jesus
sending the Twelve into the wider community to bring the good news,
and they were prepared to be unwelcomed.
There is no severer critic than our family members. That can make it
difficult to do good things, for our efforts can be unwelcome.
Good News takes root only where there is an open and accepting
atmosphere. If people come together to hate, they will hate,
regardless of the message preached. The Spirit is quenched. Where
there is a receptive atmosphere, even the smallest spark of life
ignites hope.
Rather than trying to convince everyone, Jesus seems to say “focus
your effort where the listeners are receptive”. In other words, move
where the Spirit is moving. Act where you see signs of hope. In the
terms of the story, we find a person of peace, and spend time with
them.
Why shake the dust from the shoes of those who are not welcoming? In
Jewish law, Gentile land is unclean, and so the Jew shakes the
‘unclean’ dust from the shoes before entering Jewish land. It is a
way of saying “Don’t have anything to do with them.”
Bringing Good News is not complicated. Jesus wants the Twelve to
keep it simple—no tricks and gadgets, no dazzling rhetoric, no smart
dress and awesome car. Just yourself.
Two steps help us connect with the community. Look for signs of
hope in people and community. Then nurture life there.
This way we strengthen connections between church and community.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you offered help and it has been gratefully
received? What difference did it make?
- How does your family respond when you offer Good News (perhaps
in the form of helpful advice)?
- What is our equivalent to going door to door knocking?
- What signs of hope do you see in the wider community? What can
you do to nurture life there?
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