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REFLECTION FOR: Sunday, July 5, 2009
14th Sunday In Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Ezekiel 2:2-5: People of Israel are in exile and Ezekiel is called
to prophecy.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 123:1-4: Our eyes are fixed on God, pleading for
mercy.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10: In weakness, Paul tells us we are
strong in power of Christ.
Gospel: Mark 6:1-6: Jesus is in His hometown and they are astonished, yet
reject Him.
Reflection: In the first reading Ezekiel's call to prophecy (6th century B.C.E.) is to the "hard of face and obstinate of heart". Many of the people of Israel were forced into exile. A rebellion among those remaining in the homeland led to the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the first temple. In this tumultuous time Ezekiel offers hope and challenges them to faithfulness to their beliefs.
Our world is in constant turmoil. Do we hear the prophetic voices calling out to us? Are we listening to those in exile due to war, the immigrants among us, the environmentalist calling to change our life style and to those living in poverty?
Jesus is always among us. Here today in this moment. Jesus' call is clear today as in the Gospel when He speaks in His hometown. Jesus came among them, teaching , healing and offering hope. They chose not to listen. Do we? Do we ? Do we refuse to consider the changes needed to heal our world, ourselves? St. Paul in today's reading reminds us that God's grace is sufficient. How will I respond to this grace of the spirit that is within me? "The spirit entered into me and set me on my feet" (Ez. 2:2). Will I listen to the prophetic spirit and where will my feet carry me this week to be good news?
Prayer:O great God, Creator of all, energize me by my intimacy with You to creative and restorative work this week. May I not succumb to weariness; transform my weakness into blessing, and may I plant seeds of vitality and deep listening.
S. Rosie Miller, OSF
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