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Reading 1: Ezekiel 2:2-5
Responsorial: Psalm 123:1-4
Reading 2: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Gospel: Mark 6:1-6
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070421.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!
Happy Fourth of July!
Today’s readings are so chock full of lessons for us to consider that I found it difficult to settle on a theme. So, in my prayer, I asked Jesus what is he inviting us to.
One of the takeaways from today’s readings is the reminder that all of us, by our baptism, are priest, prophet and king – specifically our role as prophets heralding the Good News of Jesus Christ.
But the road of the prophet is not easy! In fact, our first reading from Ezekiel speaks about one of the challenges prophets face: resistance.
People resist the message of the Good News. Why?
Well, our reading from Ezekiel says that people are rebellious. Now I suppose, as we contemplate our nation’s independence, that it’s not a stretch for us to understand or appreciate the fiercely independent nature of Americans. Ol’ blue eyes sang it: I did it my way! In our culture, we just don’t like people – especially the government – telling us what to do. But in recent times, people even balk at any of the Church’s teachings that are interpreted as placing limits on our individual freedom. Good, bad or ugly, as the reading from Ezekiel tells us, our experience as an independent-minded people isn’t new at all.
So, the people we encounter – even our own family and friends – might not be receptive about hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ. But our Gospel tells us that it’s even worse than that! Jesus’ own neighbors, friends, and family reject Jesus as a prophet. They think they knew everything about him. They refuse to listen to Jesus because he is one of them.
Oy vey!
Now, before we go too far down this path, let’s consider our second reading from Second Corinthians. Paul laments the thorn in his side. We don’t really know what this thorn was. The Church does not offer an official interpretation of this passage. Scholars offer a variety of explanations, but in the light of our discussion so far, I think this thorn is understandable.
Maybe for you or me, this thorn might be a lack of eloquence. Maybe when we try to speak with someone, we trip over our tongue or fail to recall the words when we need them. Or maybe we’re afraid to speak in a crowd on any subject, let alone about our faith. Or maybe there are things in our past that we aren’t particularly proud of. Maybe some of the people who knew us when use that against us when we attempt to speak about our faith. Maybe we lack the confidence to talk about or share our faith.
Any one of these examples and a host of other examples could be a thorn in our side as we try to preach the Good News – as we try to be witnesses of our faith in Christ Jesus. But wait, there’s more!
In the Gospel, Jesus could not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Wow! This dynamic of sharing the Good News must be a sort of dance. It’s not enough of that we are willing to share our faith with others. They must be willing to accept it. We need a dance partner of sorts to carry out our role as prophet. That they might not have faith to receive the Good News is testimony against them! What a burden for us to bear!
But Jesus isn’t asking us to bear the burden. He isn’t asking us to keep a tally of the number of souls we convert. Jesus is asking us to just be the prophets we are called to be as disciples. Yes, it’s easy to get discouraged and frustrated. But our task is to keep trying – to keep sharing our faith – and to keep learning about our faith. Everything else is in God’s hands.
Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions. First, what are some skills I have that will help me share talk about my faith with other people? Second, in what ways can I share my faith with others?
I think doing our homework will help us be the prophets we are called to be! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!
You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!
Image: Artist Unknown. JPEG.
Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
2. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.
3. Stegman, Thomas D. SJ. Second Corinthians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2009. Kindle.
Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Perseverance in faith: 162
2. Power is made perfect in weakness: 268, 273, 1508
3. God’s omnipotence: 268-71
4. The mystery of God’s “apparent powerlessness:” 272-74
5. Christ as prophet: 436
6. Brothers of Jesus: 500
7. Laying on hands: 699
8. Prophets and conversion of heart: 2581-84
9. Prayer with faith: 2610
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070421.cfm
Lectionary: 101
Reading 1
Ezekiel 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.
Responsorial
Psalm 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.
Reading 2
2 Corinthians 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.
Alleluia
Cf. Luke 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.
Gospel
Mark 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.