Gospel: Mk 6:1-6

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.

1.   "Many Who Heard Him Were Astounded."

To all appearances Jesus was a normal boy who lived a common Jewish childhood. This explains the utter astonishment of his relatives and acquaintances when his true wisdom and powers become known: Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! They were surprised because previously he had lived an apparently uneventful childhood, in humility, obedience to Mary and Joseph, hard work and prayer. He experienced monotony, toil and the ordinary trials and challenges faced by us all. The difference in our Lord was that he lived these experiences with extraordinary love for his Father in heaven. His humility and love allowed him to forge his character and his will as a man, so as to prepare himself for the formidable mission entrusted to him from above. We too must embrace our daily duty with faith, humility and long suffering love to prepare ourselves for the mission ahead of us.

2.   "And They Took Offense at Him."

Jealousy, like all of prides offspring, is irrational and unjust. True, Jesus exhibited superior wisdom, knowledge and power, and used these talents for the good of others - but this should be a cause to rejoice. Why would someone who knew him previously now take offense at these gifts? What harm has he done? What evil is there in possessing extraordinary talents and using them for others? Why the suspicion and miserly judgments? If another has wisdom and power together with goodness and a readiness to serve, shouldn't I see this as an advantage for me as well? Jealousy and pride refuse to rejoice in the good outside of self and to seek the help I need from others joyfully. When I insist on being the source of all goodness I deny myself all the help God wishes to give me through other people. These attitudes are irrational, harmful and absurd.

3.  "He Was Amazed at Their Unbelief."

Again, when I witness goodness outside of myself and refuse to acknowledge it, this is pride. When I witness extraordinary divine power accompanied by goodness and refuse to open my heart to the possibility of God's hand at work, this is hard-heartedness. These attitudes betray a willful centeredness on self and a stubborn resistance to grace. The fact that Jesus is amazed at the unbelief around him shows that much of it is willful and therefore culpable. Faith is a gift but one that must be freely chosen and exercised in continual and persevering acts. We must ask God for the gift of faith and do all in our power to grow in it and to live accordingly. Without faith, freely and personally chosen, Jesus power runs into obstacles in our will. He could do no deed of power there, Mark tells us, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, you know how fallen my nature is, how my will is weakened and my intellect numbed. This is why I struggle with pride and resistance to your grace. Increase my faith, Lord, and give me the strength to correspond to this gift with actions. Help me to die to my pride, because unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (Jn 12:34). Increase my faith, hope and love for You.

Questionnaire:  This optional questionnaire is intended to help you evaluate your life in light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you spent with him in prayer.

1. How active is my faith? How does my faith motivate me to live even the most monotonous and ordinary duties with effort and enthusiasm because I am doing them for love of Christ? To what extent to I study, work, obey, pray responsibly, even when it is difficult? What are the practical consequences of allowing my faith to influence my actions?

2. How does my humility and self giving compare with that of Christ? Do I rejoice in the good in others, even when they are more talented or have more material goods than I do? How could I do this better? Do I overcome jealousy with magnanimity of heart and joy in the good of others? What could I do to acquire or improve this habit in my life?

3. Do I have enough humility to allow the Lord to make demands in my life? What has helped me to do this in the past (prayer, example of Christ, of others?) How much effort do I exert to please and love Christ in my thoughts, words and actions? How can I remember to trust more in Christ and his grace than my own efforts and at the same time work with all my heart, mind and soul to serve God generously? How do I understand this phrase: Pray as if everything depends on God and act as if everything depends on you?