Daily Readings - Sun Jul 08 2018
Ezekiel
3He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day.4The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.'5And whether they listen or fail to listen-for they are a rebellious house-they will know that a prophet has been among them.
2 Corinthians
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Mark
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.3"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
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.