July 7, 2024
St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church
Submitted by Janet Knipfing-Schult, Chronicle Contributor
Mark’s Gospel (6: 1-13) for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, tells of Jesus returning to Nazareth and being rejected by his former neighbors. Jesus observed, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, among their own kin, and in their own house.” He was amazed at their unbelief. He called his twelve apostles and sent them out in twos, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, bag, or money. Jesus instructed them to stay at any house they entered; if they weren’t welcomed, to shake off the dust from their feet in testimony against them. The apostles went out and proclaimed all should repent. They cast out demons and cured many sick by anointing them.
Fr. Tom Schneider preached that what Jesus did among “friends” and found rejection, his apostles did among strangers and were met with acceptance.
