For the second Sunday in a row, the Sacred Scriptures recount Jesus speaking to people about faith.  Last Sunday, we read about two miracles that He did: curing a woman with a hemorrhage and then raising a 12-year-old girl from the dead.  The Lord was amazed at the faith of the sick woman and the father of the little girl who died.  Today, in Mark 6, Jesus returned to Nazareth where he grew up (his native place), and the people there “took offense” at him.  He was amazed at their lack of faith.
  
Faith is not just believing that God exists or just believing that Jesus is God.   Faith opens our minds to God’s way of looking at things.  We call this “perspective.”  Some people wake up and say, “Good morning, Lord.”  Others wake up and say, “Good Lord!  Morning.”  The Christian tries to see God in all things and all things in God.  The Christian accepts the reality that we are made for eternal happiness in heaven, and thus, it is not to be expected here and now.   When something unpleasant occurs, the Christian offers that up to the Lord and tries not to complain.
  
St. Paul writes in Romans 8 that all things work together unto good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.  Faith “seeks” to see and to understand what God is doing, what God is permitting and why; always trusting that He is about the work of our salvation. 

Faith teaches us to trust in our Heavenly Father and not to take offense at him. 
 
Nobody loves you like Jesus does.  Nobody comes within a million miles of loving you and thinking about you and desiring your happiness…like Jesus does.
 
Let’s pray today to see things like God does. 
 
Fr. Brett Brannen
Pastor