Among the Villages
In this week’s Gospel Mark 6:1-6, after Jesus was rejected by the villagers of His hometown, Nazareth, we are told that he went around to the villages nearby teaching. The region of Galilee, where Nazareth is located, was populated with many small villages and settlements, within one day walking distance.
The surrounding terrain consists of rolling hills and small valleys. It was a rural setting with small subsistence farmers with a little surplus for trade. Farmers grew olive trees, fig trees and tended small vineyards. I imagine a quiet rural countryside with simple everyday people.
While Jesus worked many of His miracles in the more crowded places such as Capernaum and Jerusalem, He did not neglect these small towns and villages. The residents of these rural areas were just as important to His ministry. Jesus’ journey through the small villages of Galilee demonstrates His commitment to reaching all people, regardless of their social or economic status.
By teaching and healing in these humble settings, He showed that God's love and message were for everyone, emphasizing the inclusivity and universality of His mission. I believe He must have planned to use Nazareth as a base from which to reach the countryside in which He grew up as a boy. Though He was rejected He did not let that stop Him from teaching the people of the small villages in the region.
Today as we try to grasp the meaning of synodality, Jesus provides us with an example. We are called to see the parish as made up of many small communities. While there is the pillar of rock - the faithful, loyal congregants - there are also satellite groups: of transients, persons working in the area, persons who only drink by the nearby ‘rumshops’, and those who only come for the convenience of Mass times. Like Jesus in this week’s Gospel, we are called to minister to all.
We must reach out beyond our immediate circle, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background or level of involvement, feels the embrace of our community and the message of Christ’s love.
Even within our families, we are called to reach out to those, who for one reason or another, are outside the inner circle. I think about that lovely Disney movie, Encanto, and the story of ‘No One Talks About Bruno’. This week’s Gospel narrative tells us we must also talk to the Brunoes!
NOTICE BOARD
Friends, thank you for the support and kind words of encouragement with my online ministry. I guide you to my online pastoral site, at the link below, where you can find more spiritual resources. I highlight the Benedictine Spirituality and the Bible Reading programs.