Daily Readings - Sun Jul 08 2018
Ezekiel
3And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.4The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.
2 Corinthians
7So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Mark
1He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.2And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.4And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household."5And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.6And he marveled because of their unbelief.And he went about among 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.