Daily Readings - Sun Jul 07 2024

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 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.