Daily Readings - Sun Jul 08 2018
Ezekiel
3and saying: "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to an apostate nation, which has withdrawn from me. They and their fathers have betrayed my covenant, even to this day4And those to whom I am sending you are sons with a hard face and an unyielding heart. And you shall say to them: ‘Thus says the Lord God.5Perhaps it may be that they will hear, and perhaps they may be quieted. For they are a provoking house. And they shall know that there has been a prophet in their midst
2 Corinthians
7And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly8Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me9And he said to me: "My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness." And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me10Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful
Mark
1And departing from there, he went away to his own country; and his disciples followed him2And when the Sabbath arrived, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many, upon hearing him, were amazed at his doctrine, saying: "Where did this one get all these things?" and, "What is this wisdom, which has been given to him?" and, "Such powerful deeds, which are wrought by his hands!3"Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? Are not his sisters also here with us?" And they took great offense at him4And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.5And he was not able to perform any miracles there, except that he cured a few of the infirm by laying his hands on them6And he wondered, because of their unbelief, and he traveled around in the villages, teaching
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of God's call, human response, and the transformative power of faith. Ezekiel, Paul, and Jesus each face unique challenges, yet they all point to the same profound truth: God's grace is sufficient, even in the face of weakness and adversity.
Ezekiel is called by God to speak to a rebellious and hard-hearted people, a task that seems daunting given their history of turning away from the covenant. Yet, Ezekiel is not deterred, for he understands that his role is not to convince but to proclaim. His mission is a reminder that our fidelity to God's will is not dependent on others' responses but on our own obedience. Similarly, Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, shares his personal struggle with a "thorn in the flesh," a trial he endures despite his prayers for relief. In his weakness, he discovers the paradox of Christian strength: "When I am weak, then I am powerful." This is not a denial of suffering but a profound trust in God's grace, which is sufficient for all things.
In the Gospel, Jesus faces rejection in his own hometown, where familiarity breeds contempt. The people of Nazareth see only the carpenter, the son of Mary, and not the Messiah. Their unbelief limits Jesus' ability to perform miracles, except for a few healings. This narrative underscores the importance of faith and openness to God's presence in our lives. Like Ezekiel and Paul, Jesus' mission is met with resistance, yet he continues to teach and heal, undeterred by the lack of faith around him.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own response to God's call and the challenges we face in living out our faith. Do we, like Ezekiel, remain faithful even when our efforts seem fruitless? Do we, like Paul, embrace our weaknesses as opportunities for God's grace to shine through? Do we, like Jesus, persevere in the face of rejection and unbelief? The moral lesson is clear: God's power is not limited by human weakness or resistance. His grace is sufficient, and in our own struggles, we can find strength in Him. Let us, therefore, approach life with humility, trust, and openness to the divine presence, knowing that even in the midst of challenges, God is at work.