Mark 6:1-6
Lead in: When Jesus returned to his hometown and was invited to speak, he stole the show.
The people couldn’t believe this was the same person whom they’d known as a little boy. But then their insecurity took over and they closed their hearts to him. When our minds are made up about a person, a “confirmation bias” sets in. It confirms in our own mind what we believe to be true about the person we don’t like.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when the “confirmation bias” in you made it hard for you to be open to another’s point of view?
Lead in: “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place.” Mark 6:6 When the people of Jesus’ hometown made up their minds about him, they took offence at Jesus. Consequently, he was not able to do any mighty deeds there. People are like that. Once they make up their mind that they don’t like someone, it’s hard to get them to think otherwise.
Prompt: Reflect on an experience where it seemed no matter what you had to say, people were not going to listen to you. What did you learn from that?
Prompt: Reflect on a time you judged a person in the same way? Today, how is it with that person?
Lead in: In Ezekiel 2:2, the prophet Ezekiel gives witness to how he discerns the Spirit speaking, “The Lord spoke to me, and entered into me and set me on my feet.” Ezekeil discerns the Spirit’s call and responds. He goes out and preaches to the rebellious Israelites. We can ask, “How did Ezekiel know it was God speaking to him?” How do we know whether it is the Spirit who is calling us or it is the ego trying to take control? The way St. Ignatius frames the question is, “Was the voice within of God, or not of God?”
Prompt: From your own experience, give an example when the prompting within was of God. How did you know?
Prompt: Give an example when what you thought was of God, was not. How did you know?
Lead in: In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul speaks of how he was given a thorn in the flesh. Paul does not tell us what this “thorn in the flesh” is, but it keeps him from becoming too inflated.
In contemporary language we might say Paul’s thorn in the flesh kept him from becoming too “full of himself.” Richard Rohr says the antidote for that is to “Pray for at least one good humiliation a day!” Why? It’s those everyday humiliations that keep us humble.
Prompt: Reflect on what might be your “thorn(s) in the flesh.” How are you responding to them and what are they teaching you?
Prompt: Paul speaks of how, in his weakness, God is strong in him. What does that mean to you? When have you experienced that?
