Becoming Me

All of us start out less than we become.

He left that place and came to his hometown, 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 hometown, 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; but 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

Those who knew him as a child couldn't believe who Jesus had become as an adult.

Could it be that we all expect to see the child we knew when we encounter a friend or family member in later years?

Of course, that doesn't make any sense, right?  We all grow and mature, developing our own strengths and skills, obtaining knowledge and wisdom and understanding.

Or maybe not all of us, or not all of these things, but we do change.

We are always in a process of becoming, even in our later years.  What I will be tomorrow is different from what I am today.

What is so interesting about this reunion that Jesus has with his family is that he could not use his powers there among them.

Their disbelief was enough to hold him back.

I am sure the same is true for us.  When we fail to believe and yet expect to see God's miraculous healing power in our lives, we are fooling ourselves.

It isn't going to happen.  Our own lack of faith is the reason.

Now one might argue that you could have faith and God still does not respond, but isn't that a sign of disbelief as well?

If there is a Catch 22 in all this, it is this.  Faith must be present for healing to happen.  But if there is no healing apparent, does that mean there is no faith?

More to come...