6. Homecoming

"He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?' And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, 'Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.'" Matthew 13: 54-57

*****

Jesus.

We claim you as ours.

One of us.

Carpenter, brother, man.

We pull you into our homes, old neighbor,

set you a place at our table and

ply you with our questions.

Where have you been?

What have you been doing?

We welcome you home

like Nazareans.

But

they thought they knew you--so

they couldn't know You--

not really.

I say

Let me forget who you were.

Baby in the manger, child in the temple, man eating supper with friends.

I don't want You to live in the home of my making.

Not by my rules,

not within my limits.

Don't sit at the table set with

my expectations.

Let me forget who you were.

Teach me, instead, who You are.

Invite me into Your home,

sit me down at Your table

to feast.

Let me know you beyond my knowing

Christ.