Never Gives Up

 

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came 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, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6:1-6)

Jesus is assumed to have been a carpenter.  He was also a fisherman – a fisher of men and women catching them with far more than a few worms.  He astonished people with his teaching.  He had a kind of wisdom that appealed to people, especially those who were down and out, the outcasts, oppressed, and disadvantaged – the poor and handicapped, the so-called spiritually unclean.

He performed mighty deeds. We can too when we follow his lead and use the kind of bait he put on his hooks – love, kindness, and compassion. We’re his brothers and sisters, like the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and the many unnamed sisters that likely included Mary Magdalene, and Mary and Martha.

Jesus may at times be amazed at our lack of faith.  We question and doubt.  It’s normal and, in fact, quite useful.  It means we think rather than blindly follow without understanding the implications of what we say we believe.  Fortunately, despite our misgivings, doubts, and questions, Jesus never gives up on us. He is a very patient fisherman with his bucket full of worms.

Deacon David Pierce