This morning’s readings remind us of our humanity in the face of faith. Philip is anxious to share with his friend Nathaniel that Philip has just met the Messiah, the one foretold by all the prophets.  And what is Nathaniel’s response? Nothing good can come out of Nazareth. Interesting isn’t it? Nathaniel doesn’t ask how Philip knows it is the Messiah. He doesn’t ask whether he, too, was invited. He doesn’t ask more about the man Jesus and his abilities. Rather, Nathaniel judges the place from which Jesus has come – nothing good can come from Nazareth.

It’s a little like any one of us being called to do something new and clearly scoffing, “there’s no way someone like me could do that?” We want to do the things we are certain of or the things we like to do, but we are reluctant to let go of our idea of who and what we are….and likewise who and what other people are.

Welcome to worship this morning, on a morning like many others. This is the day the Lord has made and we are right to feel hope and rejoice in it. But today is also a celebration of Christ’s entrance into his public ministry; an act that changed the whole world. Mark’s gospel reading this morning seems like a nice little story about another baptism held at the River Jordan, about the skies opening and the blessing of Jesus as God’s beloved Son.