Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Sermon and Christian Act In The Word

 Theme: Is not this the carpenter’s son? “Strength in Weakness”-“In weakness there is strength”: The Power of God is manifested through the weakness. “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU”

Point of reflection: Every human being has his or her own weaknesses and strengths. More often from the Biblical point of view God always chooses the weak and strengthens them. This is well reflected in the Scriptural readings of today and God is telling us that MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU

First Reading: Ezekiel 2:2–5
Psalm: Psalm 123:1–4
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
Gospel: Mark 6:1–6

Sermon (Reflection):  Today’s liturgical readings teach three important lessons, about weakness and adversity in the Christian life. The prophet Ezekiel’s story in the first reading highlights that God’s mission must be carried out in all circumstances and despite rejection. St Paul in the second reading teaches that personal weaknesses and shortcomings do not necessarily impede effective apostleship or any work from God. On the contrary, these obstacles can be turned into advantages, as the apostle’s weakness demanded complete reliance on God for strength and guidance. In the Gospel reading of today, Jesus Christ Himself suffered from adversity and rejection because he was the carpenter’s son, stemming from rivalry and jealousy but through the weakness that Israelites saw in him came to be the Salvation for all humanity, there is strength in weakness. As Christians, are we open to our weaknesses so that we get strength from the Lord?

God’s power works miracles among those who are open, and willing to respond to Jesus with faith. This demonstrates that weakness, rejection, and obstacles, are never powerful enough to prevent God’s designs from being fulfilled. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in our life, we have been rejected, and we have faced obstacles, as human beings, we are weak in one way or another, today’s Biblical readings are offering us genuine trust and hope, with God, those rejections and obstacles will be turned to glory and a blessing to you as long as you trust in the Lord.

As Christians, considering the inevitability of adversity, Jesus Christ’s followers need to pray for God’s grace to turn our weaknesses, rejections, and obstacles into strength with the words of the Psalmist, “To you, I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!”

The first reading of today (Cf. Ezekiel 2:2–5) contains a part of the prophetic call of Ezekiel. God addresses the prophet as “the son of man”, and the book of Ezekiel employs this term to emphasize that the prophet is an ordinary human being who has been chosen to announce the divine will and carry out God’s work. Ezekiel is sent to a stubborn and rebellious people, who continue the obstinate and idolatrous practices of their ancestors. Hence, Ezekiel’s words will fall on deaf ears. His message will be disregarded and rejected. Still, God’s word must be delivered, even to an obstinate and foolish generation. Rejection is real in our Christian life but we need to we need to be strong in faith and must just do the right things regardless of any rejection. Mainly as priests and any other Christian leaders, in our ministry, we also encounter hard times, rejections and trials but we need to turn to the Lord in prayer and get strength.

In the second reading of today, St Paul responding to the most unfair treatment and apparent disloyalty, Paul writes a moving and remarkably honest passage. He begins by openly acknowledging his shortcomings, referring to a certain weakness which he calls a “thorn in the flesh”. It is impossible to know exactly what this “thorn” afflicting the apostle was. Many speculative and unfounded explanations are offered, without any firm conclusions. However, since this “thorn” afflicted Paul’s flesh, it almost certainly was some form of a physical ailment or disability. It also appears that this defect could be easily seen by others. Easily perceptible, this defect brought Paul humiliation, and perhaps even ridicule; it made many think less of Paul. Perhaps it was some form of speech impediment? Such a defect could lead the Corinthians to reject Paul in favor of more eloquent and appealing rival apostles.

St Paul embraced and boasted of his weaknesses as evidence of God’s power working through him. Paradoxically, the weakness became the source of his strength, and his sufferings were a sign of his union with Christ. After all, in Christ’s death, the same paradoxical principle was at work. The cross, the instrument of humiliation, defeat, and death, was transformed, through God’s power, into a means of victory. Similarly, St Paul’s sufferings and defects, made his ministry effective, as they made him count on God’s power rather than his own strengths and potential.

Today too in our Christian life, we encounter “thorns”, we encounter “satans” in the form of human beings, but St Paul is telling us today that such encounters are blessings as in weakness we encounter the strength and we experience God’s glory. And God is saying MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU.

Jesus’ homecoming narrated in the Gospel passage of today was not a successful one. Arriving in the village where he grew up, Nazareth, Jesus was immediately recognized by his folks as one of their own. His family was still there, and they spoke of him as “the son of Mary”, suggesting that Joseph had already died. But Jesus did not come for an unofficial family visit. He came with his disciples and entered the synagogue to teach. He was now an acknowledged teacher and a famous miracle worker. Even though his fellow villagers knew this very well, they refused to accept his new identity. The question, “Where did this man get all this?” followed by inquiries about the source of Jesus’ wisdom and power, reveal that the people of Nazareth reacted to Jesus with jealousy. One of their own had become very successful, and they did not like it.

By calling him “a man” they refused him the honour he deserved as a teacher and miracle worker, as God’s emissary. Ironically, those who knew him best, understood him least. What blinded the Nazarenes was short-sightedness and jealousy, as often happens when one member of a group becomes more successful and important than others. Such rejection and refusal, so impeded the effectiveness of God’s power that Jesus could not perform any miracles there. However, the Nazarenes’ obstinacy did not impede God’s work in the world. Far from it, Jesus continued his mission among the surrounding villages whose inhabitants were obviously more receptive to God’s work than Jesus’ own folk.In our religious life and our Christian life, sometimes we are jealous of the success of others, we sometimes even question the success of others even to the point of creating stories for them, but God is offering us hope and that no matter how lengthy the jealousy may be or the rejection may be, God will be on your side and provides strength for your life.

Christian Act in Word of God “STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS”

 My Grace is Sufficient for You”

St Paul, when afflicted with his “thorn”, prayed to God and heard the words, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness”. As in the case of the apostle, pain can teach us to turn to God whenever we experience weakness and suffering. We can draw upon God’s strength when we turn to God in persistent prayer. We must never deny or try to hide our pain from God, but openly acknowledge it in prayer, and seek consolation and strength in our faith.

Honest reflection on our strengths and weaknesses leads to self-awareness. In the company of others, we tend to talk only about our strengths, highlighting our success and talents. But today, as Christians, we are invited to examine our weaknesses for the strength of our life.

As Christians, we must understand that obstacles and shortcomings humble us. But they are often used as excuses for not doing what is required of us. All too often we say, “I have nothing to offer”, or “others are better than I”. Many say, “I am too shy or too afraid to share the word of God in public”. The biblical examples of Ezekiel and Paul challenge such excuses. Weakness can be overcome by a willing person; shortcomings are no excuse for inactivity and laxity. Even when we experience obstacles, today’s liturgy challenges us to find a way past what blocks or frightens us. As Christians we need self-awareness, to help us to understand that we are called to be instruments that God uses to reach out to his people. Our duty is to accept God’s invitation of being a prophet among the rebellious, the impudent and the unbelieving, and to testify to our faith, without hiding or compromising what we have received. Such compromises happen when we are afraid people will reject and despise us, because of our faults and imperfections.

As Christians, we are called to share in the sufferings of Christ. Christ was rejected by his own, and could not work among them. But he did not abandon his work. As we recognise our own strengths and weaknesses, we are invited to change our perception of ourselves, and others, and believe that our efforts, even if seemingly futile, will bear good fruits. Strength works through weakness, and God works through both.

Action: During this week I will carefully observe myself and write down a list of my strengths and weaknesses in order to understand myself in a holistic way, and do so in prayerful reflection.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for showing us our weaknesses, and we ask you Lord to help us to understand that in accepting our weaknesses we get strength and we become strong and we do better. Give us strength to rise above our weaknesses and see them as opportunities to grow and draw closer to you. As your Son was rejected by his earthly community, you endowed divine power on him to give us salvation, send your Holy Spirit upon us to overcome the jealousy and rejection we encounter in our societies. We ask this through your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.