As we journey through the Gospel of Mark this week, we read accounts of Jesus’ travels on the Sea of Galilee. The mighty deeds of Jesus brought glory to the Father as He dispelled the demons from a man who was bound, healed the woman with hemorrhages, and said, "Talitha koum" to the little girl.
One of the greatest mysteries of the Incarnation is that Jesus is both God and Man. We often associate Jesus with His extraordinary deeds. It is important to hold these together with the reality that Jesus also lived an ordinary life. Jesus had a home in Nazareth, a Holy Family, and a synagogue nearby where He read and prayed.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus decided to go home to Nazareth. It probably was a twelve-hour walking journey with His disciples. Jesus grew up in a place where everybody knew everybody, for better or for worse.
Saint Mark describes how Jesus began teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth and the people were surprised by His wisdom (see Mark 6:1-6). Saint Mark tells that that Jesus "was amazed at their lack of faith" (Mark 6:6) and "not able to perform any mighty deed there" (Mark 6:5). These people were baffled at the extraordinary in the ordinary.
I look at my life and the ordinary tasks filling my day: talking, listening, working, shopping, cooking, eating, cleaning, helping, praying, and sleeping. In these ordinary places, there have been extraordinary encounters with Jesus. I have been surprised by His presence through a conversation with a friend, the unexpected kindness of a stranger, and the Scripture verse that leapt off the page. In the ordinary, Jesus sees a soul marked with faith, and He chooses to perform mighty deeds.
Sisters, Jesus wants to journey to your home today. Jesus is eager to be with you, and He is looking forward to your hospitality. What is the mighty deed that you desire Jesus to do in your life? As you spend time with Jesus today, listen to Him, and let Him be amazed by your faith.
Read up on what the gift of faith is over here.
Rose Coleman is a contemplative in action who delights in all things beautiful. Her adventurous heart has traveled many places—from circumnavigating the globe on a ship during college to some years in the convent as a religious sister. Exuberant from her childhood, she is an elementary school teacher who learns so much from her students. She is a contributing author to our children's devotional prayer book called Rise Up and the author of our Blessed Conversations: Ways to Pray study found here. You can find out more about her here.
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