When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
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 Joseph and Judas and Simon?
Somewhere I read about an elementary teacher who said something to this effect, "If it doesn't feel dangerous, I'm not teaching."
I was struck by that. She was talking about the extra effort it takes to teach a child who doesn't seem to be staying with the class. For whatever reason that child has dropped out. The teacher then must go the extra mile, dare to be different, or make some kind of effort that might not meet the approval of other teachers, or parents or the school administrators.
Or they might. Who knows?
. The same is true in many professions. Doctors, nurses, poets, musicians, preachers, ministers, police, judges, attorneys, politicians, business people: all of these and, I'm sure, many more feel that peril when they dare to make a difference. They have to do something differently.
Sometimes they will fall flat on their faces and the world will ask, "What were you thinking?"
"Success has a thousand parents; failure is an orphan."
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| A seed has taken root in this shallow pit on a barren rock. |
Jesus habitually stepped into danger. He was trouble for a lot of people. His message on the Sabbath in his hometown synagogue was deeply disturbing. His healings on the Sabbath were even more so. His spreading reputation was problematic, but everything he did seemed to make it worse.
Nothing is more problematic than his crucifixion. That remains and will always remain a scandal to Jews and nonsense to Gentiles. It simply makes no sense
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.Let us ask the Lord to goad us in those moments when it's right to step out in courage and to check us when it's better to withdraw in prudence. In either case it will feel dangerous.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.