Strength from Weakness
Jul. 7: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's readings are a series of contradictions, where God responds to human weakness in a distinctly un-human, but rather divine way.
Reading 1
Ez 2:2-5
As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them.
The Israelites were an obstinate and rebellious people. Yet, this small tribe is still the nation God chose to bring the messiah into the world. And so He sends the prophet Ezekiel, who they may heed or resist.
When humans feel rejected, we want to reject those people, but God's not like thatIt doesn't matter how they respond, by either accepting or rejecting him. God will keep up his end of the covenant no matter what.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 123:1-2, 2, 3-4
R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven —
As the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
As the eyes of a maid
are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
till he have pity on us.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,
for we are more than sated with contempt;
our souls are more than sated
with the mockery of the arrogant,
with the contempt of the proud.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
The Israelites were not totally uniform, of course. Some were good people who remained faithful. Here is an individual praying directly to God. He asks pity for not just himself, but the whole contemptible people.
This, of course, prefigures Jesus, whose sacrifice is for the forgiveness of all.
Reading 2
2 Cor 12:7-10
Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul never actually states what the "thorn in the flesh" is, but the phrase in Hebrew was a colloquialism for an obnoxious opponent. It seems that someone was following Paul around and arguing with him publicly.
Paul asks God three times to take this annoying person away, so he can focus on preaching, but He refuses. Paul's inability to sway this one guy will prove God's power: many are converted, not by Paul's ingenious rhetoric, but God's Grace.
Paul's weakness is used to show God's strength.
Alleluia
Cf. Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
When Jesus says "the spirit of the Lord is upon me," He is claiming His place in the lineage of prophets. Of course, He's greater than any mere prophet, but that's something to be shown after His death and resurrection.
Gospel
Mk 6:1-6
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Jesus never performs a miracle on command to prove Himself to anyone. It's only when someone comes to Him in faith, like the bleeding woman or the paralytic man, does He confirm their faith with miracles.
the people of Nazareth don't recognize the Messiah in their midst, so He doesn't perform any miracles.
The question for us today is, do we recognize Jesus among us. We probably recognize the thorn in our side, like Paul. But do we see Jesus in them, as well?
