The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be open to experiencing the grace of God in our attention to discipline and our acceptance of rejection.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews contains warnings against rejecting God’s Grace.
* [12:1–13] Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith (Heb 12:1) but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph (Heb 12:2). Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood (Heb 12:3–4). Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 103 is a thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark presents the Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth.
* [6:1] His native place: the Greek word patris here refers to Nazareth (cf. Mk 1:9; Lk 4:16, 23–24) though it can also mean native land.
* [6:2–6] See note on Mt 13:54–58.
* [6:3] Is he not the carpenter?: no other gospel calls Jesus a carpenter. Some witnesses have “the carpenter’s son,” as in Mt 13:55. Son of Mary: contrary to Jewish custom, which calls a man the son of his father, this expression may reflect Mark’s own faith that God is the Father of Jesus (Mk 1:1, 11; 8:38; 13:32; 14:36). The brother of James…Simon: in Semitic usage, the terms “brother,” “sister” are applied not only to children of the same parents, but to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters; cf. Gn 14:16; 29:15; Lv 10:4. While one cannot suppose that the meaning of a Greek word should be sought in the first place from Semitic usage, the Septuagint often translates the Hebrew ’āh by the Greek word adelphos, “brother,” as in the cited passages, a fact that may argue for a similar breadth of meaning in some New Testament passages. For instance, there is no doubt that in v. 17, “brother” is used of Philip, who was actually the half-brother of Herod Antipas. On the other hand, Mark may have understood the terms literally; see also 3:31–32; Mt 12:46; 13:55–56; Lk 8:19; Jn 7:3, 5. The question of meaning here would not have arisen but for the faith of the church in Mary’s perpetual virginity.
* [6:4] A prophet is not without honor except…in his own house: a saying that finds parallels in other literatures, especially Jewish and Greek, but without reference to a prophet. Comparing himself to previous Hebrew prophets whom the people rejected, Jesus intimates his own eventual rejection by the nation especially in view of the dishonor his own relatives had shown him (Mk 3:21) and now his townspeople as well.
* [6:5] He was not able to perform any mighty deed there: according to Mark, Jesus’ power could not take effect because of a person’s lack of faith. (Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Barbara Dilly comments that our forgetfulness causes us to wander from our faith. And when that happens, we lose our courage and become weak.
In faith, our struggles can strengthen us to share the grace of God in our own places and amid our own kin. We can do this by sowing seeds of peace and hope in enduring our own trails as disciplines. And while we ourselves will probably not be performing miracles by doing this, our faith can open the door for the Spirit to come in and do its work. But first we must believe that this is possible. Our faith is the path to find joy in our pain. So today I pray that we will not forget the Lord’s compassion and not lose faith in all the benefits of his everlasting kindness. And I pray that we can all endure our trials as discipline. (Dilly, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Distinguishing God's power and our faith,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"And perhaps, as in the case of metallic substances there exists in some a natural attraction toward some other thing, as in the magnet for iron, and in naphtha for fire, so there is an attraction in such faith toward the divine power according to what Jesus said: 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, 'Move to another place,' and it shall be moved' (Matthew 17:20). Matthew and Mark wished to present the all-surpassing value of that divine power as a power that works even in those who do not believe. But they did not deny that grace works even more powerfully among those who have faith. So it seems to me that they accurately said not that the Lord did not do any mighty works because of their unbelief, but that he did not do many there (Mark 6:5). Mark does not flatly say that he could do no mighty work there at all, and stop at that point, but added, 'except that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them' (Mark 6:5). Thus the power in him overcame even their unbelief." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 10.19) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15 comments that we all know what it’s like to be beset by a particular sin that always seems to trip us up. The “discipline of the Lord” comes in when we humbly acknowledge, once more, our weakness and turn to him for mercy (Hebrews 12:5).
These words from the Letter to the Hebrews are meant to be an encouragement to us, to strengthen our “drooping hands” and “weak knees” (12:12). The truth is that we will always face the struggle against sin. Those who went before us did, too. But be encouraged! As you allow the Lord to train you in this way, you will become a witness of healing, peace, and righteousness. You will show the world what a child of God looks like!
“Lord, I welcome your work of ‘discipline’ in my life. Help me take up the struggle against sin so that I can become a more faithful child of God.” (Meditation on Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the role of discipline in the teaching in Hebrews to develop trust and a desire for purification as we seek peace with everyone and unity in community. The understanding of “brothers and sisters” of Jesus is different among Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant Christians. Friar Jude reminds us that we need to accept growth and we face the Cross to know the truth about faith.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, identifies the elusive nature of prophetic leadership.
There are plenty of prophets among us now in every church and society, and it is vitally important that we listen to them, support them, and protect them. Often, they are not formally aligned with religion, yet they are deeply influenced by its deepest values, like the “heroes” CNN celebrates each year, or those who work tirelessly for women’s rights, children’s rights, and human rights without much notice or reward. I deliberately do not begin to name them specifically, because there are so many of them. Like the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, they
Do not cry out or shout aloud,
or make their voice heard in the streets;
But faithfully they bring true justice
refusing to be wavered or crushed,
until true justice is established on earth.
—Isaiah 42:2–4 (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the role of discipline and rejection in our journey to live out our Baptismal anointing as prophet and companion of Christ.
References
Dilly, B. (2025, February 5). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020525.html
Hebrews, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12?4
Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?1
Meditation on Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/02/05/1195851/
Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Prophetic Leadership. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/prophetic-leadership/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Marveled because of Their Unbelief. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=feb5
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