Reflection on Today's Readings, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, July 4th, 2021
Texts: Ez. 2:2-5; Ps.123:1-4; 2 Cor.12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6
Parents could get tired of talking to their children when they are incorrigible; God will stop at nothing in His willingness to save us. In our sinfulness He continues to call us. In today's first reading, He said to prophet Ezekiel thus: _"Son of man, I send you to the sons of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The people also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them.”_ Only parents of stubborn children will understand the condition described in the reading and how much God loves to still be talking to us. God continues to send His prophets to us because it is by hearing His words that faith comes. St. Paul, in His letter to the Romans, says, _"But it is in that way faith comes, from hearing, and that means hearing the word of Christ"_ (Rom. 10:17). That we have the opportunity to hear His words today is a sign that He still loves us, it is a sign that He still has interest in our salvation. We are not to disappoint Him. As He will stop at nothing to save us, so also we should stop at nothing to save ourselves. Let us give it what it takes to save ourselves. Let us take His words seriously that we may grow in faith.
God continues to do His own part no matter the condition. As His children we are to be like Him. In a place where evil prevails, never say, "When you are in Rome you behave like a Roman" but always say, "Remember the child of whom you are". We are to always be the children of God. Do not be corrupt because the leaders are corrupt. Do not sell your votes because you think they all the candidates are corrupt. Do not be evil because others are evil; just be good and be the child of your Father in heaven. God did not stop sending prophets to His people because they were stubborn and incorrigible. We should not be tired of doing good.
Today's second reading reminds us that weakness is not evil but an open door to greater strength. Hence, the Lord says, _"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”_ When God created man, He created Him good; man is good with all his weaknesses. Our weakness is meant to draw us close to God. Realizing that we are weak we are to draw close to God that we may tap from His strength and power. Our weakness is to make us enter into communion with God. Our weakness is not an excuse to commit sin but an opportunity to win the grace of God. To some of us, we have turned our weakness into excuse for failure rather than opportunity for greater achievement. Our weakness is good. It is good because it serves a good purpose.
God made us weak that we may find reason to come to Him and coming to Him we might save our souls. This is evident in the life of St. Paul. In his word, he says, "To keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated." They are some challenges or problems in our lives that are meant to keep us on the path of salvation; they are meant to humble us. Such challenges or problems remind us that we are human, not God; they make us realise our need of God and so make us run to Him for help.
Our weakness is rather an opportunity than a burden. God has made us weak for our good; He made us weak for our salvation. Let us appreciate our weakness and exploit the opportunity therein. If we look at our strengths very well, we will see weakness, so also our weaknesses if we look at them very well, we will see strength. Our weaknesses become strengths when they make us humble before God and win graces for us. Weakness kills pride in us and engenders humility. Weakness in Christ is not evil but good, not a burden but an opportunity. Weakness opens us to God for strength; it avails us the opportunity to make use of the strength from God. Weakness makes us realise that the Lord is truly our strength.
When we see our weakness as a burden, it demoralizes us and weighs us down. When we see weakness as a burden, it becomes an excuse for failure. Once we begin to use weakness as an excuse, we will fall and never rise again. What ruins man is not the fall but inability to rise after fall. What leads to hell is not sin but the inability to repent and come back to God. I say it once again, weakness is good, not evil.
In today's gospel reading, we see Jesus Christ who identifies with us. He becomes one like us, we know Him, we are familiar with Him. As weakness, which is meant for our salvation, becomes an obstacle to some, so also the identification of the Son of God with us becomes an obstacle to some. They begin to say, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” Familiarity should not bring contempt but appreciation. What impact our familiarity with Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion and the Blessed Sacrament has on our attitude? Does the familiarity make us appreciate Him better? What about our familiarity with Blessed Virgin Mary in the Church? Do not be surprised to see a Catholic who still believes that it is a sin to honour her. Familiarity should not be an obstacle but an opportunity to attain salvation.
Lord our God, open our eyes to recognise the opportunities You have given us to save ourselves and grant that we may make us of the opportunities. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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