Daily Readings - Sun Jul 04 2021
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3and saying: "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to an apostate nation, which has withdrawn from me.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 themes: the call to prophetic mission, the embrace of weakness, and the challenge of rejection. Ezekiel is sent by God to a rebellious people, despite their hardness of heart, to speak God’s word. Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, shares his own struggle with a “thorn in the flesh,” a weakness he prayed to be removed, only to learn that God’s grace is sufficient in frailty. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus faces rejection in his own hometown, where his neighbors fail to see beyond his familiar identity as a carpenter’s son, and thus he is unable to perform miracles there.
These readings remind us that God’s work is often accomplished through human limitations and despite human resistance. Ezekiel’s mission is not conditional on the people’s response; he is simply called to speak. Paul’s weakness becomes the very place where God’s power is revealed, teaching us that our vulnerabilities are not obstacles but opportunities for grace. Jesus’ experience in Nazareth shows that even the Messiah faces rejection, but this does not stop him from continuing his mission. Together, these passages invite us to trust in God’s providence, even when our efforts seem futile or when we feel inadequate.
In our daily lives, we often face similar challenges: resistance to our efforts, feelings of inadequacy, or rejection from those closest to us. The readings encourage us to embrace these struggles as part of our own spiritual journey. Like Ezekiel, we are called to fidelity in sharing God’s word, even when it is difficult. Like Paul, we can find strength in our weaknesses, knowing that God’s grace is enough. And like Jesus, we can persevere in our mission, trusting that even in the face of rejection, God is at work. Let us, then, approach life with humility and faith, knowing that God’s plan is not hindered by our limitations but often revealed through them.