His name is Homer Hickman and his inspiration was the Soviet satellite Sputnik as it crossed a clear October Sky in 1957. In 1999 a movie about Homer’s life, aptly titled October Sky, was released detailing his dream to build and launch rockets. It is one of those rare movies that captures the true human spirit.
Homer is but a young high school boy growing up in a poor West Virginia town. He is only the son of a coal miner and a housewife, living in company provided housing. As Homer began his quest to build and launch rockets, he was ridiculed and scorned by classmates, neighbors and friends. And worse, his dad totally rejected his dream and wanted him to follow in his footsteps as a coal miner.
All of that changed when Homer persevered in his pursuit and began to successfully build and launch rockets. He won a science fair that propelled him on to college and eventually he became one of America’s premier NASA rocket scientists.
One of the most influential players in America’s space program, Homer Hickman started out amidst ridicule, insult and doubt. And all of this from his own home town!
How often do we stumble upon ridicule and rejection; many times from those closest to us and when we least expect it. Many times our own family and friends fail to recognize the gifts and talents others may see in us. And we too often fail to recognize gifts and talents of those we are closest to.
As people of faith, do we recognize the totality of all that Jesus is for us; all that Jesus does for us and do we recognize the gift that is His one holy Catholic Church?
We read Mark’s account of Jesus returning to his home town of Nazareth. This is the place Jesus lived for most of his private life, a life lived in the home of Mary and Joseph. He learned the trade of a carpenter from Joseph and became one Himself. It is apparent that he stayed with Mary for some amount of years after the death of Joseph. While in Nazareth he concealed his divinity sharing his humanity with his relatives and neighbors. And then he began His public ministry. After raising Jairus’ daughter from death and curing the woman with the hemorrhages Mark tells us Jesus leaves for His native place. And Jesus brings them his teaching, his wisdom and his healing.
But look at their response. His friends, neighbors and relatives say where is this coming from? Who do you think you are? This is just a carpenter, He works with his hands; you know a blue collar guy. He is trying to be better than us. Did they even take the time to listen? Could they see that Jesus came to share with them the message of His salvation? No, the externals were all that mattered. Or did they believe as Nathannael says in John’s Gospel, “can anything good come out of Nazareth”?
And Jesus knew this was coming. Surely, the Word of God made flesh, Jesus Himself, would know what the prophet Ezekiel said in our 1st reading today: “hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.” So Jesus does not force Himself on His hometown. He simply says, “a prophet is not without honor except in his native place, among his own kin and in his own house.”
How profound is this rejection. Mark tells us that Jesus “was not able to perform any mighty deeds there”. He does not say He was not willing to, he says not able to. Why? No faith. But wait, Jesus is God; He can do whatever He wants to do! Remember, Jesus never forces anything on us. He seeks faith in revealing his miraculous power. Again, just recall the woman with the flow of blood from our Gospel last week.
For us today, do we wish to show Jesus our faith or will we be a modern day Nazarene? Will we go deep in our faith and look for Jesus in our everyday lives or will we concern ourselves with the externals.
Like Jesus, we can teach and share our faith not by forcing ourselves on others but by our joy, our hope and our Christian witness. Sure, we pray and conduct ourselves as Christians at Mass, in church. Do we also pray and conduct our lives as Christians in Wal-Mart, at work, at our kids baseball game when the call does not go our way, even in our own homes surrounded by family and friends?
Do we respond to Jesus’ call to be Christ to our fellow man or do we just leave that responsibility to others. Right now, in our own parish bulletin we are looking for men and women to step up and share the faith by teaching our children in PSR. Maybe God is calling you to that ministry today. Perhaps you think we should have a certain ministry here that we currently do not have. Maybe God is calling you to speak up. Perhaps you are concerned about those who cannot get to Mass because they are sick and homebound. Perhaps God is calling you to visit them. Perhaps God is wondering why we don’t respond generously to our own parish efforts to provide numerous opportunities for reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, numerous ministries and Bible study. Maybe God wants you to give of yourself in one of these opportunities. And finally, perhaps God is wondering why we, having been blessed with the gift of His Son, body, blood, soul and divinity, do not carry that joy with us all week long, in all that we do, even the mundane. Maybe God wants you to show your joy and happiness with all you encounter.
It’s not always easy; but few things truly worth it ever are easy.
This weekend, some of us will gaze at a July evening sky and see fireworks celebrating our nation’s 233rd birthday. 52 years ago Homer Hickman gazed at a clear October sky and launched his remarkable career. We can gaze to the Heavens, tonight and any night, and thank God that we are not like those long ago Nazarene’s. No, we rejoice in the Jesus who loves us and teaches us and heals us. May we always recognize Him!
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