July 4, 2021

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 101

Reading I

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.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 123:1-2, 2, 3-4

1. (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 II

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.

Alleluia

Cf. Lk 4:18

1. 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

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.

Reflection: THE CALL AND THE CONTRADICTIONS

Based on the Word this Sunday, here are some contradictions that you could ponder on....

1. You are sent by God to a particular space and time: till the end of your time you will not realise it to the full and not as long as you are in the space where you live!
2. You are sent to live as a people, the people with whomever you find yourself in reality, but they will never look at it that way and you will wish to have been elsewhere all your life!
3. You are called to be a prophet - though it means living a life of a prophet, it is decided only in the way you die. It is, literally or symbolically, a call to die for a cause!
4. You are sent, as people of God, amidst a people who would not easily accept you, if they accept you easily, may be, they are not the ones for whom you are specifically sent!
5. You are sent - that does not mean you are special... just look around and you would see scores of persons much better than you, however that does not excuse you from following your call.
6. You are sent - therefore it doesn't matter if you don't love the task that you are entrusted with, it is your duty not your hobby; do it with your full heart and energy... even if it is, and especially if it is living your daily life in silence!
7. You are sent - that does not mean you are strong, it makes you weak and vulnerable! But it is in that weakness and vulnerability that you would make the One who sent, better known to the rest!
8. You are a prophet to the people which means you would be rejected by them, at least by the dominant and the majority - if you are easily accepted, you are no prophet!
9. Popularity and Prophecy do not go together - mind you, if you seem too popular in a place, you are conforming to their ideals, and not to the one who sent you. So, don't strive to make yourself acceptable!
10. The One who sent you, sent you to the rebels, not to the patriots! Hence if you are comfortable with those who are inside the flock, with those who are just around you, you are mistaken - you haven't started to live your call yet!