Daily Readings - Sun Jul 07 2024

³and saying: "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to an apostate nation, which has withdrawn from me.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

Chapter 12

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

Chapter 6

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 powerful themes of divine call, strength through weakness, and perseverance amidst rejection. Ezekiel is summoned by God to prophesy to the Israelites, despite their hardness of heart, emphasizing the importance of faithful obedience even when faced with resistance. In 2 Corinthians, Paul shares his personal struggle with a "thorn in the flesh," teaching us that true strength lies not in our own abilities but in God's grace, which is sufficient for all our needs. The Gospel of Mark illustrates Jesus facing skepticism in His hometown, yet He continues His mission, demonstrating that God's work is not hindered by human doubt. These readings interweave to remind us that our weaknesses and challenges are opportunities for God's power to shine through. Ezekiel's call and Paul's thorn highlight the transformative power of trusting in God's plan, even when circumstances seem unfavorable. Jesus' experience in His hometown underscores the reality that our faith may not always be accepted, but this should not deter us from our mission. In our daily lives, let us embrace these lessons with humility and trust. When facing rejection or difficulty, may we find strength in God's grace, recognizing that our weaknesses are avenues for His strength. Let us continue to serve and share God's message with perseverance, trusting that His power will overcome any obstacle.