FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

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.

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 91:1-3.13-16
2Corinthians 5:6-10
Mark 4:26-34

FROM TINY BEGINNINGS...

The readings of today present us with various parables about the Kingdom of God. These parables apply to the Church, which from a tiny beginning amidst persecutions, has grown big and filled all the earth. The Church continues to provide shelter and hope to millions of people. However, these parables may also apply to each one of us. They challenge us to become insiders, that is disciples of Christ, so as to get the privileged explanation of these parables.

Two parables are given by Jesus in the gospel reading. In the first parable, the Kingdom of God expands and bears fruits whether we cooperate or not, for God himself is at work. God himself cares for the seed, from its sowing till harvest time. In the second one, from tiny beginnings, the mustard seed grows so big that it provides shelter to birds.

These are parables of hope and encouragement.  God is actively present in our lives, working for our growth. Like the branch of the cedar in the first reading, God cares for us (Ez. 17:22-24). If we allow him to take charge, we will grow like a Lebanon cedar, flourish and bear fruits even when we are old, because we are always in his presence.

We need therefore to be patient. The slowness of the germination of the seed of greatness planted in us must not discourage us. In this life, we are like exiled, far from home. We are in a journey. And in this journey, St. Paul tells us, we walk by faith and not by sight. We must have the confidence that we are not alone. God is leading us from our nothingness and smallness to greatness. He has great plan for each one of us.

May he open our eyes of faith to wait with patience for the realization of his plans for us.
Amen.