Am I Tying God’s Hands?…

“…So he was not able to perform any mighty deeds there…He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:5-6)

It was early in Jesus’s ministry.  He had already cast out demons, cleansed a leper, healed a paralytic, a man with a withered hand and a woman with a bleeding disorder among many other healings.  He had calmed a great storm with just a word.  He had even raised a 12 year old girl from the dead. 

Yet when he came to his hometown of Nazareth, the Scripture says that he could not do any great miracles there.  It was not because he didn’t want to; it was because the people there were so familiar with him that they totally discounted the possibility that he was anyone other than the run of the mill guy they remembered from his unremarkable years growing up.  They saw his family of origin as pedestrian, and him as no one special. 

And Jesus was amazed.  Their lack of faith, their over-familiarity with him, caused them to discount him entirely.  And this tied Jesus’s hands.  He – the Word made flesh, the Son of God, the long-promised Messiah and King of Israel – was stopped in his tracks by their unbelief. 

Reading this has made me think about my own life.  Having been a Christian for many years, knowing a good deal about the Bible and what the Scriptures tell me about Jesus, and experiencing the Sacraments of the Church on a regular basis, I must still wonder: are there some ways I’ve begun to take Jesus for granted?  I’ve walked with him many years, have had innumerable prayer conversations with him, sung loads of worship songs extolling him, etc.  But am I neglecting to recognize and constantly, truly experience – with appropriate awe and wonder – the amazing privileges I enjoy? 

Just as I can take my spouse, family, or even good friends for granted, might I even be taking my Savior for granted sometimes?  I must ask myself: is my familiarity with Jesus muting my faith somewhat and even preventing him from doing more “mighty deeds” in my life?   

I am asking the Holy Spirit to quicken in me a great revival of faith, hope and love!  I am asking for the supernatural joy of Jesus which he promised would be in me as I abide in his love and obey his commandments (John 15:11). 

I must practice constant gratitude –always and everywhere – for all the wondrous gifts and blessings which flow from my loving Father’s heart.  And I must pray with faith and not doubt, for doubt is the antithesis of faith.  For to doubt is to disbelieve that God can and will transform every circumstance – even my weakness or failure – to work for my eventual good as he has promised. 

Keeping these things at the forefront of my mind by regular practice might just keep my faith keen and receptive, anticipating that Jesus will, in fact, do even more “mighty deeds” in my life than I have so far seen and experienced.