Seeing the Potential in Others

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? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "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 6:2-6)

We are so often like the people in today’s gospel. We place people in categories and think we know them. We expect certain things from certain people. Our expectations may be high and we are let down when they don’t meet our expectations. But worse than that are the times we don’t expect much from others. We think by the way they speak, or dress, their age, or maybe by their line of work that they don’t have much to offer. This is such a pity because when we don’t expect much from others they often do just that. We suppress their spirit and don’t allow them the opportunity to surprise us. And when they do the unexpected we often respond like those in the synagogue. They wanted to know why this carpenter, the son of a peasant woman, has this wisdom and power to do mighty deeds. Rather than having a positive reaction, they take offense and reject him. Just as Jesus wasn’t able to perform mighty deeds in Nazareth because of their lack of faith, we often keep others from excelling because we lack faith in their ability. They fulfill the prophecy we have placed before them.

Heavenly Father, help me to take on the eyes of Christ and soften my heart so that I may see the beauty and potential that lies in each and every person you have created. Help me to encourage, instead of discourage, this potential and allow you to perform miracles in our daily lives. Amen.