A Poem a Sunday

Proper 9B/Ordinary 14B/Pentecost 7
July 8, 2018

St. Mark 6:1-13 - NRSV

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

6 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary[a] and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense[b] at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.

The Mission of the Twelve

Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Footnotes:

1. Mark 6:3 Other ancient authorities read son of the carpenter and of Mary
2. Mark 6:3 Or stumbled

A Poem a Sunday

Pentecost 7 – B

Dust in the Wind

The wind blows where it wills

but if you are very still

you can tell

where the wind has been:

at the prophet’s hometown

swirling around

the synagogue grounds

proclaiming that

God can be found

in one’s neighbor;

or writing in dust

next to a woman

used for lust

while men

who drop the last stone

stand condemned;

or when

a disciple’s touch

brings healing

from the dust

of someone’s

shattered life.

Shake the dust

from your feet

when it is apathy you meet

so the indifferent can learn

it is to dust we return.

The wind blows where it wills

but if you are very still

you can tell

where the wind has been:

Copyright 2018 @ A Poem a Sunday

Rev. Kenn Storck

May be used with permission

kennstorck@gmail.com