Ezekiel 2:2- 5
Psalm 122
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Mark 6:1-6
THE THORN IN MY FLESH
It can be observed that messages urging conversion, love, truth, justice, forgiveness, etc. are often met with hostility, hatred, rejection, and persecution. This reality is more evident in the life of prophets and men of God. What makes the work of a prophet more difficult and risky is that he is called to challenge and urge his own people to change their way of life and conform their lives to the will of God.
In the first reading, God sent Ezekiel as a prophet to speak his word to his people so obstinate and defiant that they would not even listen to him (Ez. 2:2-5).
In the Gospel reading, Jesus comes to his hometown. But his own people would not accept him, because they thought they knew him and his family background. While the other towns hailed him for his miracles and powerful preaching, his hometown despised him (Mark 6:1-6).
St Paul, in the second reading, expresses his joy in bearing with his weaknesses, hardships and persecution for the sake of his mission as a preacher. For God’s grace is sufficient for him to bear the thorn in his flesh (2Cor. 12:7-10).
Working for God is never easy. In our own time, priests and other men of God are often victims of persecution, poisoning, hatred, humiliation, hostility for the simple reason that they are bearers of the Good News. The church and its leaders are humiliated, criticized, and ridiculed for one reason or the other.
However, we must remember the words of Jesus in Mark 13:13 “And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved”. May the Lord grant us the sufficient grace so that we may not despair but endure in face of our own shortcomings and amidst persecutions and hostilities. Amen.
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