14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B) – July 4, 2021 Faith: The experience of true power by trusting in the power of Christ’s love Ezekiel 2: 2-5 / Psalm 123 / 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 / Mark 6:1-6
Who or what stops Jesus? Who or what prevents him from doing the things he wishes to do? In this age of superhuman superheroes in blockbuster movies, the best and strongest is the one who has the most overwhelming or unstoppable power. What is distinct about the power of Jesus?
When it comes to the power of Jesus, notices what unleashes it. His power is unleashed by love and compassion. Even more, his power is always at the service of his love and compassion. His power is always in the context of relationship.
The Gospel according to Saint Mark the Evangelist provides multiple examples that teach us the love-driven and relationship-building nature of his power. As we go deeper into these encounters another force becomes clearer: faith.
Last Sunday’s gospel reading showed us the wonderful and life-giving possibilities that occur when faith moves from thought to action, doubt and fear to trust. After suffering years of hemorrhages, the woman is cured. Christ the Healer makes it clear why when he states, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction” (Mark 5: 34).
Today, sadly, we hear the opposite and its negative consequences. The lack of faith on the part of the people of Nazareth shuts down the possibility of God’s goodness having an even greater effect in the lives of those present. Last week’s story of faith opening the door to hope and new life is followed by today’s episode marked by closed-mindedness and, worse, hard-heartedness.
They people knew of Jesus and his extended family. It seems, however, they did not truly know him or they did not care to. Instead of opening themselves to his gifts and wisdom, they closed themselves off in their own pre-conceived notions or prejudices.
The words of the gospel account convict them: “They said, ‘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, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him” (Mark 6: 2b-3 – emphasis added).
The power of the Lord is held back by a force that also holds us and many others back: lack of faith. Before we think that a lack of faith is just a religious matter or matter of conscience or of believing or disbelief, look closely at what is happening.
The lack of faith is manifested in today’s reading in several ways, all negative: the unwillingness to listen, obstinacy towards someone we think we know but really have little true knowledge and comprehension of, the resistance to letting God work his way within us as individuals and communities. In the end, as the gospel reading makes clear, the consequences are sad and negative: “So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.He was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mark 6: 5-6a).
Faith is not restricted to belief nor does it remain only in our intellect. Faith has much to do with how we live and think and our willingness to enter into relationship with God and others. In and through faith, good things are possible.
In the second chapter of Mark, a positive situation unfolds when Jesus witnesses the power of faith demonstrated by how audacious love from the hearts of the people finds a way over real-life obstacles: “They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mk 2: 3-5).
Faith – trust in God – makes great things happen because it bridges the gap between Christ and us and between us and our neighbor.
When it comes to the Lord’s power, let us not remain focused of what he does to demonstrate his capabilities, but why he does the great things he does and what – and who - invites him to do so. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy.” He is love in person. Every expression of his love is a demonstration of his power and vice-versa. Faith not only makes us believe in that, but it makes us trust in him who does it. When that happens, the possibilities are endless.
Faith brought out the best in the many people who sought Jesus and placed their trust in him; may the faith God has planted in our hearts bring out the best in us.
The Peace of Christ be with You! Fr. Charles Johnson, O.P.