We Took Offense

Gospel: Matthew 13: 54-58

Whenever we imagine a homecoming, we think that people will greet us with open arms and a parade.  They will say how proud they are of our accomplishments and host a big dinner in our honor.  We might very well expect that for someone like Jesus should very well receive such a greeting from his hometown.  After all, he had accomplished great deeds in his care of others and has become somewhat famous.  The musings of our own homecomings are just the irrational daydreams of the mediocre.  

So, we are surprised in reading that the homecoming for Jesus did not go as we expected.  They took offense at him.  They did not want him around.  He was just too much for them.  Jesus is too much for us too.  Providing care for all people equally!  Eating at table with people I do not like!  Telling us we have to love our enemies, forgive others countless times, rejecting violence and revenge!  All of this is just too much for us, as it was for his hometown.  

So, we invent other versions of Jesus that are more palatable to our biases and animosities against others.  When we are finished with our editing of Jesus to suit our tastes, we discover that we have chosen Barabbas - a thief and purveyor of violence for nationalism.  We then create an entire system of apologetic and theology to defend this caricature so we can justify the body counts and other atrocities the real Jesus would find repellent.  Changing images of Jesus is easier than changing ourselves to become like him.