Life Just Isn't Like That

Wrestling with Jesus' inability to do miracles in Nazareth.

All four gospels tell of Jesus being rejected by those who knew him well. Luke and Mark give great detail about him visiting Nazareth. Matthew does a bit, too. John tells of Jesus and his brothers not quite aligning in their conversations and forward thinking.

But truly, what Mark tells us in our passage for today is remarkable. His fellow Nazarenes were so uncertain of his wisdom and ability that Jesus was unable to do any miracles there. Does this surprise you? Can’t Jesus do anything?

Perhaps the recipient of a miracle has some agency or responsibility is its coming to fruition. That’s a conversation for another time. For the moment, I’m wondering if the notion that “Jesus was unable” is of any encouragement to you.

For some, it might be a discouragement as an affront to their belief that Jesus can do anything. But for many of us, that Jesus can’t do something might bring his humanity all the closer to ours. Be assured: God is powerful. Christ is powerful. But the free will of humans to reject God is something God will not change.¹

Sometimes we might get this notion that if we just love someone enough or in the right way, then all will be well.

Hogwash.

That didn’t happen for Jesus. It doesn’t happen for God. And it won’t for you and me.

Our choice is to do our best, to love without abandon, to live as righteously and as justly as we can. But that does not guarantee the best results. Life is not a puzzle wherein if we just get all the pieces correctly, the picture will turn out perfectly.

It’s just not.

So perhaps you can receive this as an encouragement today. You can do your best. God’s grace is there in cooperation with such an effort. But do not beat yourself up when things go badly. (By the way, his grace is available then, too.)

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus left that place and came to his hometown. His disciples followed him. On the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were surprised. “Where did this man get all this? What’s this wisdom he’s been given? What about the powerful acts accomplished through him? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were repulsed by him and fell into sin.

Jesus said to them, “Prophets are honored everywhere except in their own hometowns, among their relatives, and in their own households.” He was unable to do any miracles there, except that he placed his hands on a few sick people and healed them. He was appalled by their disbelief.

Then Jesus traveled through the surrounding villages teaching.

Psalm 123

I raise my eyes to you—you who rule heaven. Just as the eyes of servants attend to their masters’ hand, just as the eyes of a female servant attend to her mistress’ hand—that’s how our eyes attend to the Lord our God until he has mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, Lord! Have mercy because we’ve had more than enough shame. We’ve had more than enough mockery from the self-confident, more than enough shame from the proud.

Prayer (from St. Ignatius)

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.

Amen.

1. Whether or not it is something God *cannot* change is a long-held debate amongst scholars.