The effort of conversion
He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6: 6)
Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. (Mark 6: 1-6)
Conversion is always an effort due to every man's inclination toward evil. Thus, it is humanly easier to despise the people who proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven, so as not to strain to change our behavior to do God's will. Even Jesus encountered this problem, especially among people of his hometown and even among his relatives, not counting, of course, Mary and Joseph. Let us strive every day to convert our hearts to God by looking at the good examples around us.
