Daily Readings - Sun Jul 04 2021
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 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.