Summary: Last week the people were amazed. This week, Jesus is amazed.Last week it was the faith two people that were amazing.This week it is the lack of faith that leaves Jesus amazed, and it is amazing.It is amazing that in spite of all that he had done in signs and wonders, they remained incredulous and actually offended. While it might be interesting to get all theological about this, historical, and all very profound in discussing the relationship with faith and the power of Jesus to work signs, I think the point here is much more simple, and quite a bit more personal for all of us.For Mark, this story is very personal and very real in an on-going sense. First Jesus is rejected by the citizens of Nazareth. Astonishing. By the time Mark puts together his Gospel, the Gentiles all over the place are coming to believe, but the Jews, Jesus’ own are rejecting the Kingdom of God and Jesus. Astonishing. One of thier own is simply dismissed.The point of this gospel story is these people. I think their problem is not their lack of faith in Jesus. It is their lack of faith in themselves and in what God can do with someone - maybe anyone from Nazareth. Remember, Nazareth was looked down upon by everyone. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” is a question proposed aloud that reveals the way these people were perceived, and sadly, I think this story tells us that they had come to believe that about themselves. When they cut Jesus down to their size, question how God could work through one of them, how anyone of them could share in the divine plan, heal, give life, defend and embrace the lost and lowly, speak with authority, and command evil spirits, it is not just a lack of faith in Jesus, it is a lack of faith, respect, and hope for themselves. It isn’t just that they didn’t believe in Jesus. They did not believe that one of them could be God’s servant. They thought they were just too poor, inadequate, and insignificant. That God could choose the week and make them strong was just beyond them, and so, there were no signs of the Kingdom of God, no miracles worked there.This story is still being told lived today, right here;and we’re right in the middle of it. How is it that people do not believe in Jesus Christ, in the Sacraments, in this Church? Perhaps it is because we live like those citizens of Nazareth: not believing that God could do something through us. Perhaps we think that the work of peace, of reconciliation, forgiveness, of feeding the hungry, and embracing the lonely and outcast is the work of someone else, some specialist or professional. I don’t think that’s working? Do you?There are not enough signs of that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The reason is not because Jesus is absent; but because we act like those Nazareans and fail to understand that God has chosen to use people like us to bring this Kingdom to life. Perhaps there is no faith in our Church, our religion, our sacraments becasue we have no faith in ourselves; no belief, no hope, no confidence that we can do anything that matters, or that God might choose someone like us to accomplish God’s plan.The people of Nazareth missed it because they did not think enough of themselves, find themselves worthy, and therefore be open to God’s work among them. The Jews missed it because they had an idea of a Messiah that was outside of their ordinary lives, and they could not imagine that God would save them with one of their own. Now what happens? How do we make this work and not miss it this time. The work and will of God is not something for someone else. The mission of the church to heal, to reconcile, to give life, to feed, to lead, to teach is not reserved to those with degrees in Theology, or to those ordained for service.This is astonishing, utterly astonishing that God would choose you and me to fulfill His plan and secure his Kingdom. When we get that right, there will be plenty of miracles and no absence of faith in Jesus Christ.
