Mighty Deeds

Mighty deeds for a mighty king?   Today’s reading from Mark describes Jesus returning to his “native place, accompanied by his disciples.  He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished.  They said, ‘Where did this man get all this?  What kind of wisdom has been given him?  What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!  Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary…”

Of course, Jesus was not a king, notwithstanding the fact that we all worship at Christ the King.  He was a carpenter, son of Mary and Joseph.  Nevertheless, he did “mighty deeds,” many of which we know very well. 

Some of his mightiest deeds were healing the lowly, welcoming the outcasts, and defending the poor despite the outcries and complaints from those in power and who felt threatened.  Another would be his sacrifice on the cross.

Someone doing mighty deeds right now is Pope Francis.   He has picked new cardinals from countries struggling with military violence, political turmoil, and devastating poverty.  Some of those countries are Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Panama, Tonga, and Uruguay.   Pope Francis passed over the traditional Catholic powers of Europe and the United States because he wants “to include those who have been excluded from governance and decision-making authority in both modern-day political and ecclesial structures,” according to Christopher Hale of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.

These were mighty picks by a mighty Pope.  Where did this man get all this?  What kind of wisdom has been given him?  Jesus Christ.

Deacon David Pierce