Alternatives
You can accomplish so much more if you have faith.
He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, Prophets are not without honor, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house. And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. - Mark 6:1-13
I posted the entire Gospel reading for today because it shows two sides of the faith dilemma.
First, no deeds could be done because the people had little or no faith. Then many deeds were done by the disciples who were sent out because the people who accepted them had faith, and they had faith as well.
It is a two way street. You may want to help others, but if they don't want your help, and they don't believe it will change their lives, no amount of passion and commitment on your part will make a difference.
The other message in today's Gospel is that the work I can't do may be able to be done by others.
Jesus sent out the disciples and they were able to great things in his stead. So, maybe we can learn something from that.
When we are failing to be heard, we may need to find another voice to spread the message. It isn't always us.
God likes to work through all of us, so we should seek those who can speak the language that people will hear.
If they won't hear me, they might hear you.
So, I guess we should not give up completely, but seek alternatives. Then, of those are rejected as well, we can go on our way knowing we tried.
More to come...