Wednesday 1 February
Mark 6:1-6
In some ways it is rather disturbing to read in today’s Gospel that Jesus could do ‘no mighty work’ in his home town of Nazareth. The preceding passage had just described marvellous healings and Jesus’ power to raise from the dead. Yet now we are told that this awe-inspiring power was not available – at least not then and there.
Those who had been familiar with Jesus in his childhood, who had seen his upbringing and knew his family, were clearly unable to reconcile this knowledge of his humble origins with the person who stood before them, teaching in the synagogue with authority. It wasn’t just that they found the difference hard to reconcile – it was that they would not accept that ‘the carpenter’s son’ spoke words of truth and power. Their minds were simply closed. Their response was not merely apathetic but actually hostile – to call Jesus ‘the son of Mary’ (a title of love and veneration these days) may have been intended to be an insult, as the lack of reference to his father implied illegitimacy.
All Jesus’ miracles were a testament to the power and love of God and his presence among his people. For this reason, faith was usually essential for a miracle – faith in the authority of Jesus and faith in the love of God. The people of Nazareth, in their hostility, had rendered themselves unreceptive to the message of a miracle. Therefore, any miracle would have been pointless for them – a sign without meaning.
We are told, however, that a few sick people were open to Jesus and were healed. Sickness can focus our attention on our dependence on God in a way that nothing else can. And in Nazareth, in a prevailing atmosphere of hostility, it was those at a disadvantage who were most able to experience his power. Those who had self-assurance, health and confidence were in fact blind to the presence of the Son of God in their midst.
Do we, like the people of Nazareth, sometimes refuse to accept the truth because we are caught up in our own private prejudices about others? We need to be vigilant that we are not robbed of the manifestation of God’s power because of prejudice. The truth has power of itself and may be conveyed by the unlikeliest of messengers.
‘Lord, help me to know your presence in all circumstances. Help me to respect all who speak your truth.’
2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 • Psalm 31(32):1-2, 5-7
Mark 6:1-6
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