FIRST READING
“They are a rebellious house, they will know that there has been a prophet among them.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:2-5)
In those days: The Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “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.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 123:1-2a.2bc.3-4 (R. 2efl)
R/. Our eyes are on the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.
To you have I lifted up my eyes,
you who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, like the eyes of slaves
on the hand of their lords. R.
Like the eyes of a servant
on the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God,
till he show us his mercy. R.
R/. Our eyes are on the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.
have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
We are filled with contempt.
Indeed, all too full is our soul
With the scorn of the arrogant,
The disdain of the proud. R
SECOND READING
“I will boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians12:7-10)
Brethren: 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. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it should leave; but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am week, then I am strong.
The word of the Lord.
Alleluia Luke 4:18
Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to preach good news to the poor. Alleluia
GOSPEL
“A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:1-6)
Jesus came to his own country, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “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?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them,” A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Ezekiel, Paul and Jesus, appearing in the three respective Reading of the day, manifest their vocation as God’s accredited ambassadors and prophets. Ezekiel is asked by God to go and preach to the rebellious Israel. Paul, during his ministry experiences the power of Satan as he is afflicted by a “thorn in the flesh”. Jesus was misunderstood and rejected by people of his own hometown out of prejudice. They cannot go beyond knowing him as “the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Jude and Simon”. They question among themselves: “Where did the man get all this.?” in all three situations the protagonists in question are empowered and sustained by the power of God working in them. Jesus was aware of his role as the prophet sent by his father, regardless of the fact that he is rejected by the people of his own hometown. Paul experience the power of Christ who assures him, “my grace is enough for you”. And Ezekiel is assured that “Whether they listen or not, this tribe of rebels will know there is a prophet among them.” When we follow God’s precepts and be his messengers, there will be moments of trial, misunderstanding and rejection in life. But we will always be strengthened and sustained by the plentiful grace of God.