Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever noticed in the Gospels when Jesus performs miracles, there is always a correlation to the faith of the receiver of the miracle? Today, we read, “And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith” (Mt 13:58). The people of Jesus’ own hometown, the ones who maybe ‘knew’ him the best, turn out to be some of his biggest skeptics. Jesus’ miracles tend to either reveal his great mercy or his divine identity as the Son of God. I think it’s important to distinguish between Jesus’ ability to perform mighty deeds in our lives and our willingness to receive the gift. How often do we get in our own way? How often do we set or project expectations onto someone that blocks our vision of reality when that person is not what we expected?
When someone is away from home for a period of time–like a student who sets off for college, a family that moves to a different state for one of the parents’ jobs and then returns home following a subsequent job change, a loved one serving in the military, or a number of other possible examples–coming home again can be complicated. You might have changed; those in your hometown also likely changed. In my life, I haven’t lived in my hometown since I moved to the University of Dayton as a college freshman 17 years ago. I have lived in a few other places besides Dayton since then, but never back in Sherwood, Ohio. I am certainly a very different person all these years later; as are the people I grew up with. The folks in Jesus’ hometown did not like the ‘new’ Jesus. This is the son of the carpenter, whose mother, Mary, and whose brothers and sisters are known locally. Jesus’ identity was placed in a box; it would be nice if he would just stay in his lane. Who is he to come home and dare try to preach with such wisdom and mighty deeds? Sometimes our most severe critics are the people who we’ve known the longest. The people of Nazareth were confident they knew everything they needed to know about Jesus. He left as the son of a carpenter and returned acting like he was the son of God.
Those who identified Jesus as the carpenter’s son held no interest in this newly revealed identity. The son of God was in their midst and they rejected him; because of their lack of faith, Jesus did not work many mighty deeds. Are there times in our lives when we have rejected Jesus? Of course, we have. But thankfully, we believe in a God of mercy; a good and loving God who invites us back into relationship despite our lack of faith; despite our sinfulness; despite our anger, hatred, greed, dishonesty, apathy, and many other shortcomings. Faith compels us to seek mercy and believe in the wisdom and mighty deeds of Jesus. May we embrace Jesus; may we be astonished by who he is and his powerful grace. May our good and loving God answer our prayer:
“I believe Lord, help my unbelief” (Mk 9:24).
Peace,
Brandon Meyer