Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

But in the scripture it is someone with the divine message, often pointing out the meaning of and deviation from the past divine messages and usually pointing to some type of promise for the future, at least if the people obey God

The prophetic voice, however, must be willing to be misunderstood

Ezekiel is warned in his call-vision the ones to whom he sent are “bold of face and stubborn of heart” but that “whether they hear or resist — they shall know that a prophet has been among them.”

That is sort of like saying, “Sister, I am placing you in class known for their rebelliousness, and whether you actually get through to them or not, they will in the end know that they had had a teacher I sent.”

That is, the people would treat the prophet as they treated God. And that is often not good news.

In our second reading Paul does not boast in his evangelistic success but in his weakness, for it identifies him with Jesus

He had had a great vision, either his Damascus road vision or a later call-vision.

But he also had “a messenger from Satan” (perhaps continual opposition, including from some Christians) to keep him humbled.

Rather than let it get to him - although since he prayed about it three times he did not find it pleasant - he says “I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 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.”

He is weak, but Christ is strong

He is shamed and abused, but it is for the sake of and in identification with Christ - and there he finds strength

Put that on a job description and see how many apply!

Finally, we have Jesus, the rejected prophet

He comes to Nazareth, and they did not say, “That’s our Jesus; local boy become famous!”

Instead they see the miracles and hear him dare to teach and say, “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?” A “carpenter” or “hand-worker” or “builder” was not supposed to teach, but to stand and learn while his upper class betters sat to teach.

“His mother we know, a woman who knows her place; his family we know, all of them decent folk who follow the rules of their class. But who does Jesus think he is?”

And because they knew him, Jesus is amazed: “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.” 5 So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.” The town, in turn, loses out on possible miracles.

Sisters, Paul may tell us to desire the gift of prophecy, but if so know that you are desiring the gift of suffering.

It may be that your words will not be hear or rejected. “What is all this virtue ethics stuff? No place in it for human freedom.”

It may be that you are rejected. “Upstart in and upstart order. Think you know better than the older orders?”

It may be that you are constantly working from weakness, whether financial, social, or physical - Mother Amata Veritas got a share of that while in the Chancery of the Ordinariate.

But as we do what God calls us to and forge ahead despite weakness and rejection, we get with it an identification with Christ like that of many saints with similar sufferings in the past.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 7-4-2021: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Ezekiel 2:2–5

2 As he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking 3 say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart—to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD. 5 And whether they hear or resist—they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-4-2021: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 123:2cd

2 Yes, like the eyes of servants

on the hand of their masters,

Like the eyes of a maid

on the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes are on the LORD our God,

till we are shown favor.

PSALM

Psalm 123:1–4

1 A song of ascents.

To you I raise my eyes,

to you enthroned in heaven.

2 Yes, like the eyes of servants

on the hand of their masters,

Like the eyes of a maid

on the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes are on the LORD our God,

till we are shown favor.

3 Show us favor, LORD, show us favor,

for we have our fill of contempt.

4 Our souls are more than sated

with mockery from the insolent,

with contempt from the arrogant.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-4-2021: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

2 Corinthians 12:7–10

7 because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, 9 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. 10 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.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-4-2021: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Luke 4:18

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

GOSPEL

Mark 6:1–6

1 He departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 2 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! 3 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. 4 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.” 5 So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 7-4-2021: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Ezekiel 2:2–5

Response Psalm 123:2cd

Psalm Psalm 123:1–4

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Gospel Acclamation Luke 4:18

Gospel Mark 6:1–6

GREEN

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