Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus’ hometown people cannot imagine that the extraordinary glory of God is coming to them in an ordinary citizen of their town. They cannot see God at work among them in this ordinary Middle-Eastern peasant. Knowing Jesus as they did, they thought they knew all there was to know. In this view, they set limits on his capabilities, and when he stepped outside their expectations, they were ill disposed to accept him. They felt that carpenters should not become charismatic preachers. We also often manifest this fault. We set narrow limits on the people we know well. When they show talent we despise it, for we feel diminished, by comparison.