Word to the Wise
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - Wednesday in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Sam 24:2, 9-17 and Mark 6:1-6]"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." 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]
FEBRUARY 4 [St. Catherine de Ricci, OP]
The "there" in this account from the Gospel According to Mark is Nazareth, Jesus' hometown! The Gospel According to Luke reports this incident in greater detail: Luke 4:16-30. In Luke's account, Jesus confronts the hometown audience with their lack of faith and they drive him away! In Mark, Jesus finds himself almost completely stymied by their lack of faith. How could this be?
The best explanation is that lack of faith will keep people from coming to Jesus or understanding the meaning of his miracles. Jesus performs miracles elsewhere in the gospel without a person showing faith in him - often by the request of someone else! [Mark 2:1-12] Furthermore, it is not enough to be amazed at what Jesus does, one must believe in him to understand why he can do what he does. Indeed, Jesus expresses impatience at certain points with those who demand miracles before they will believe in him and follow him.
A miracle can be the occasion for a person to come to faith, but the vast majority of us come to faith through the example and preaching of faithful people - our family, our friends or pastors. I have seen many times in campus ministry how a faith-filled student has brought a peer to faith by his/her example and invitation to attend Mass or some event at the Catholic student center. A chat with those who are in the OCIA program at a parish will reveal the power of personal witness. We cannot live as Christians on a day to day basis by expecting miracles! AMEN
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