Daily Readings - Sun Jul 08 2018

Ezekiel

3And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.4For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.5And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

2 Corinthians

7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Mark

1And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.2And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.4But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about 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.