Growing up at 2 Florence Street, I felt we were somewhere between riff raff and hifalutin.
We weren’t poor but we weren’t rich.
There was a sense of community with a willingness to help those willing to be helped and accept and respect those that didn’t want to be helped.
On both ends of the spectrum and for us in the middle we had a good, meaningful and fun life most of the time.
I love that Binghamton, New York is my hometown, sort of a Mayberry, or better yet Raleigh of the North!
Don’t we all think we are a prophet, especially in our personal lives and career disciplines? If we have done something for so many years, aren’t we the expert?
“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and among his own kindred, and in his own house,” mused Jesus. He could not work any miracles in his hometown of Nazareth except a few by laying hands upon them.
And he marveled at their unbelief.
Jesus was astonished, surprised that his own neighbors did not honor him or give him his credit due. So much so his MOJO was impacted and he could not work any miracles.
Don’t get so hifalutin’ with me, may have been the attitude of the Nazarenes. You are the same as me as we were both born here in Nazareth!
Maybe they were riff raff and missed an opportunity to become saved?
Who knows what belies a person that returns to his or her hometown. For what purpose? For what motive?
Aren’t we all prophets that predict our future and that of the world from our heart-based thoughts and prayers?
Looks like the disciples had an internship to test the waters to see if they liked the work and if Jesus liked them.
And he summoned the Twelve (disciples) and began to send them forth two by two; and he gave them power over the unclean spirits.
Two by two; I wonder what the pairings were.
And the apostles came together to meet Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.
Mission accomplished. Internship completed and successful Full time job may be available after graduation. Stay close. Stay tuned in.
From Riff Raff to Hifalutin; Prophets to Disciples to Apostles…
There is no Riff Raff or Hifalutin or in-between as we are all same-level Children of God!
And each one of us is a Prophet, Disciple, and Apostle too!
Who are You?
Past, present, future?
For all of Eternity, be like Jesus!
Day 38: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; From Riff Raff to Hifalutin; Prophets to Disciples to Apostles; Who are You?
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Mark Chapter 6.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, was the son of a certain Mary, whose house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians.
His Gospel, based on Saint Peter’s preaching, aims to prove to the Gentiles the divinity of Christ, be recounting His numerous miracles and examples of His power over devils.
Matthew Chapter 6: Jesus of Nazareth; The mission of the Apostles; Herod hears of Christ; John the Baptist imprisoned by Herod; John the Baptist beheaded by Herod; Return of the disciples; Jesus preaches to a large crowd; He desires to feed them; Jesus feeds five thousand; Jesus walks o water; Other miracles
He went into his own country…
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joseph, Jude, and Simon? And are not also his sisters here with us?
“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and among his own kindred, and in his own house?”
And he marvelled because of their unbelief.
Marvelled—to wonder at (usually followed by a clause as object): I marvel that you were able to succeed against such odds; to wonder or be curious about (usually followed by a clause as object): A child marvels that the stars can be. Noun: something that causes wonder, admiration, or astonishment; a wonderful thing; a wonder or prodigy: The new bridge is an engineering marvel.
And he summoned the Twelve and began to send them forth two by two; and he gave them power over the unclean spirits.
And he instructed them to take nothing for their journey, but a staff only… but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
“Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you leave the place. And whoever does not receive you, or listen to you go forth from there, and shake off the dust from your feet for a witness against them.”
And going forth, they preached that men should repent, and they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many sick people, and healed them.
It is John whom I (Herod) beheaded; he has risen from the dead.”
Because of Herodius, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.
“It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.”
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and protected him…
When Herod on his birthday…
Herodius’ own daughter having come in and danced, she pleased Herod…
Ask of me what thou willest, and I will give it to thee.
To her mother, What am I to ask for?
“I want thee right away to give me on a dish the head of John the Baptist.”
And the apostles came together to meet Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.
Hifalutin’—pompous; bombastic; haughty; pretentious.
Alteration of high-fluting. In his book, The Adventure of English, Melvyn Bragg records that in a nascent America, when the well-to-do travelled by steamboat, said passengers were referred to as highfalutin due to the high fluted funnels on the boats. Compare riffraff.
Riffraff—people, or a group of people, regarded as disreputable or worthless: a pack of riffraff; the lowest classes; rabble: the riffraff of the city; trash; rubbish.
To trace this one, we have to start in medieval French. There was then a set expression rifle et rafle. These words are from the verbs rifler, to spoil or strip, and raffler, to carry off. The phrase referred to the plundering of the bodies of the dead on the battlefield and the carrying off of the booty.
And they had no leisure even to eat.
And had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd
“You yourselves five them some food.”
And they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties.
Now those who had eaten were five thousand men.
Walking upon the sea, and he would have passed them by
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”
And they were utterly beside themselves with astonishment, for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was blinded.
And as many that touched him were saved.
Prophet—a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration.
Disciple—one of the 12 personal followers of Christ; one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1; .any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime; any follower of Christ; (initial capital letter) a member of the Disciples of Christ; a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower: a disciple of Freud.
Apostle—any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world; (sometimes initial capital letter) any of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel: Simon Peter, the brothers James and John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot; the first or the best-known Christian missionary in any region or country; Eastern Church. one of the 70 disciples of Jesus; the title of the highest ecclesiastical official in certain Protestant sects; (among the Jews of the Christian epoch) a title borne by persons sent on foreign missions; one of the 12 administrative officials of the Mormon Church.
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