Who is this guy?

 
Something occurred to me when doing lectio divina (a way to pray with scripture) on the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6:1-6.

It's the passage where Jesus is teaching in the synagogue and everyone is shocked at his wisdom. Not recognizing him as God, they start asking:

“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 . . ."

You see, they thought they knew Jesus. He was just the guy next door. We know Jesus is so much more.  He makes the point that among his own kin, in his own house, there's not a whole lot he can do, except cure a few sick people. No mighty deeds here, where there is a great lack of faith.

What can we learn from this exchange? 
 
How do we see Jesus? Do we have a "lack of faith" that affects the potential to receive mighty deeds from him? In our eyes, has Jesus become too much our buddy, ordinary and so familiar, that we have lost our comprehension of his divinity?

Our relationship with Jesus should be both comfortable and awe-inspiring. We should be astonished whenever we encounter him, in his Word and in the Eucharist.
 
Take some time today to be with Jesus.  Ask him to help you grow in holiness, to be the disciple he is calling you to be.  Love others extravagantly.  In doing so, you will no longer have to wonder about him, because you will know him personally in the love he gives you to share.

Janet Cassidy
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