Sunday Jul 5, 2009
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B
Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; Second Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6
The Gospel passage for this Sunday tells us of Jesus in the midst of his own people, with those who knew him well, teaching in their synagogue, the place of Sabbath prayer. Jesus amazes the people with his teaching, but then they ask themselves about the origin of such wisdom and the marvelous deeds of Jesus, whom they consider nothing more than a local craftsman, well known to them, a relative of neighbors and others they know.
Where did it all come from, they wonder? How could someone so near to them posses such gifts? In a sense, it is too much for them to bear and their lack of faith in Jesus ultimately caused him to go elsewhere to teach and work miracles.
Before Jesus moved on to potentially more productive places, though, he quoted to the people a common proverb of the time, "No prophet is without honor except in his native place, among his own kindred, and in his own house." How true this seems to be throughout the ages, and no less so in the case of our Lord himself. Among his own he received little or no hearing.
Some important points can be made about this Sunday's Gospel passages. First, there is a clear rejection of the prophetic nature of Jesus' mission by some of those closest to him. People couldn't look beyond the fact of Jesus being from their own town nor believe he could be bearing a message that in fact was for people of all times and places.
The lowly origin of Jesus seemed to be a stumbling block to his neighbors, making them skeptical about the divine origin of Jesus, rejecting him without good cause. We are reminded that Jesus became a human like us in all things but sin, yet destined to be the Redeemer of the entire world.
The lack of faith of his own people no doubt distressed Jesus, preventing his being able to work wonders for the people there, so he moved on to neighboring villages instead. The absence of miracles in his own place does not arise from Jesus' lack of power, but from the people's unbelief. It would in fact be contrary to Jesus' mission to cure when confronted with unbelief, since his miracles are signs and works of faith.
The episode of Jesus in the Nazareth synagogue is a reminder that the teaching and saving deeds of the Lord, demonstrated centuries ago and culminating in his passion, death and resurrection from the dead, is present today as well, in the Church, through her saving actions on behalf of all people, who are moved by the Holy Spirit and on the way to God's house, prepared for those who are willing to die to self in order to live in God.
Turning to the other two scripture readings for this Sunday, we hear of the prophet Ezekiel's mission given to him by God some six hundred years before the coming of Christ. It was during the time of exile, when God's people were being oppressed, but Ezekiel's call contained a message of return to the Lord, awakening consciousness that would bring the people back to the right path through observing God's commands.
In that way God's people would truly know that there is but one God, present and at work in the world. The Ezekiel reading serves as an appropriate background for Jesus coming to his people and their rejection of what he has to say. This emphasizes the place of free will, that the people of old and we today are never forced, but lovingly invited, to turn to the Lord, who in fact has called us first.
Saint Paul in his words to the Church at Corinth, the second reading for this Sunday, speaks of the realization that all that has happened to him, even his sufferings, are a gift from God, who can bring good out of misfortune and wholeness out of brokenness. What Saint Paul heard as coming from God, was this: "My grace is sufficient for you." A more literal translation of the Greek text would be something like: "All you need is my grace." Grace is that essential help from God and the mark of God's infinite love.
Saint Paul hears from God as well, "In weakness power reaches perfection." By this Paul understands that his frailty, weakness and brokenness actually give a chance for God's power or grace to go into action and bring about wholeness, and so he can say, "When I am powerless, it is then that I am strong."
As such Saint Paul could even take delight in all his troubles for the sake of Christ, with confidence that he was not alone or abandoned, because like a tent in the unrelenting desert, the power or grace of Christ covers, soothes and shelters him at all times.
We are to live in the same confidence and joy, secure in the goodness of our God on our behalf!
Commenting on this Sunday's scripture texts, the late Fr Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P., has this to say, which I find very apt and moving: "We must manifest to others how we would personally collapse were it not for the strength and wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit. Only when we show up powerless and distressed can it be credible to others that our strength of interior convictions comes from God and from no desire for personal ambition and for dominance over others" (from "Biblical Meditations for Ordinary Time - Weeks 10 - 22," Paulist Press, 1984, p.307).
May these words find a place and take root in our hearts this day.
Fr Christian Leisy, OSB
Monastery of Christ in the Desert
Abiquiu, New Mexico
Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; Second Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6
The Gospel passage for this Sunday tells us of Jesus in the midst of his own people, with those who knew him well, teaching in their synagogue, the place of Sabbath prayer. Jesus amazes the people with his teaching, but then they ask themselves about the origin of such wisdom and the marvelous deeds of Jesus, whom they consider nothing more than a local craftsman, well known to them, a relative of neighbors and others they know.
Where did it all come from, they wonder? How could someone so near to them posses such gifts? In a sense, it is too much for them to bear and their lack of faith in Jesus ultimately caused him to go elsewhere to teach and work miracles.
Before Jesus moved on to potentially more productive places, though, he quoted to the people a common proverb of the time, "No prophet is without honor except in his native place, among his own kindred, and in his own house." How true this seems to be throughout the ages, and no less so in the case of our Lord himself. Among his own he received little or no hearing.
Some important points can be made about this Sunday's Gospel passages. First, there is a clear rejection of the prophetic nature of Jesus' mission by some of those closest to him. People couldn't look beyond the fact of Jesus being from their own town nor believe he could be bearing a message that in fact was for people of all times and places.
The lowly origin of Jesus seemed to be a stumbling block to his neighbors, making them skeptical about the divine origin of Jesus, rejecting him without good cause. We are reminded that Jesus became a human like us in all things but sin, yet destined to be the Redeemer of the entire world.
The lack of faith of his own people no doubt distressed Jesus, preventing his being able to work wonders for the people there, so he moved on to neighboring villages instead. The absence of miracles in his own place does not arise from Jesus' lack of power, but from the people's unbelief. It would in fact be contrary to Jesus' mission to cure when confronted with unbelief, since his miracles are signs and works of faith.
The episode of Jesus in the Nazareth synagogue is a reminder that the teaching and saving deeds of the Lord, demonstrated centuries ago and culminating in his passion, death and resurrection from the dead, is present today as well, in the Church, through her saving actions on behalf of all people, who are moved by the Holy Spirit and on the way to God's house, prepared for those who are willing to die to self in order to live in God.
Turning to the other two scripture readings for this Sunday, we hear of the prophet Ezekiel's mission given to him by God some six hundred years before the coming of Christ. It was during the time of exile, when God's people were being oppressed, but Ezekiel's call contained a message of return to the Lord, awakening consciousness that would bring the people back to the right path through observing God's commands.
In that way God's people would truly know that there is but one God, present and at work in the world. The Ezekiel reading serves as an appropriate background for Jesus coming to his people and their rejection of what he has to say. This emphasizes the place of free will, that the people of old and we today are never forced, but lovingly invited, to turn to the Lord, who in fact has called us first.
Saint Paul in his words to the Church at Corinth, the second reading for this Sunday, speaks of the realization that all that has happened to him, even his sufferings, are a gift from God, who can bring good out of misfortune and wholeness out of brokenness. What Saint Paul heard as coming from God, was this: "My grace is sufficient for you." A more literal translation of the Greek text would be something like: "All you need is my grace." Grace is that essential help from God and the mark of God's infinite love.
Saint Paul hears from God as well, "In weakness power reaches perfection." By this Paul understands that his frailty, weakness and brokenness actually give a chance for God's power or grace to go into action and bring about wholeness, and so he can say, "When I am powerless, it is then that I am strong."
As such Saint Paul could even take delight in all his troubles for the sake of Christ, with confidence that he was not alone or abandoned, because like a tent in the unrelenting desert, the power or grace of Christ covers, soothes and shelters him at all times.
We are to live in the same confidence and joy, secure in the goodness of our God on our behalf!
Commenting on this Sunday's scripture texts, the late Fr Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P., has this to say, which I find very apt and moving: "We must manifest to others how we would personally collapse were it not for the strength and wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit. Only when we show up powerless and distressed can it be credible to others that our strength of interior convictions comes from God and from no desire for personal ambition and for dominance over others" (from "Biblical Meditations for Ordinary Time - Weeks 10 - 22," Paulist Press, 1984, p.307).
May these words find a place and take root in our hearts this day.
Fr Christian Leisy, OSB
Monastery of Christ in the Desert
Abiquiu, New Mexico