Homily - XIV Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)- Sunday 4 July 2024 - Rev Dr. Patrick Mathias SDB

 

Homily - XIV Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)- Sunday 4 July 2024

Mass Readings: Ezek 2:2-5   Ps 122   2 Cor 12:7-10   Mk 6:1-6

Key Verse to Meditate: 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 (Mk 6:3).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

The fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time comes with the Gospel episode of Jesus' rejection at Nazareth from the Markan account (See Mt 13:54-58; Lk 4:16-30). The Nazareth rejection of Jesus is very well pictured by the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading of today. The prophet is someone who is sent by God and speaks in the name of the Lord. God revealed to the prophet Israel that even if people do not listen to you because of your message, they will know that you are a prophet of the Lord. Rejection of the prophet is the norm, as seen in both the first and the Gospel readings of today, because of their prophetic message. The people of Jesus' hometown refused to listen to Jesus. They refused to accept Jesus as the prophet, as the promised Messiah. In the second reading, too, in a connective line of thought, St. Paul reminds us that when people reject God’s word, one should not feel rejected, for in the prophet’s experience of pain and rejection, one should not forget the closeness of God and the power of the Lord that comes from on high. It is in our human weakness that God’s power and grace are perfectly revealed.

The First Reading:

In the first reading of today from the book of the prophet Ezekiel, we see that the prophet is given an early warning regarding the reaction of the hearers of God’s word. Going through the history of the prophets, the Old Testament bears witness to the fact that prophets are never welcomed or accepted by the people. The Lord warned the prophet that he was being sent to the people of Israel, who have rebelled against God’s commandments and His directives given through the prophets. God refers to Israel as a nation of rebels who have rebelled against the Lord and His prophets. It is to this rebellious people that God was sending the prophet. But whether they listen to him or not, they will come to understand that there was a prophet among them: "I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them" (Ezek 2:3-5).

The Second Reading:

In the second reading today, St. Paul tells us how we should boast in the protection and grace of God. St. Paul was weighed down by a particular weakness. It could be his personal imperfection or any imperfection he noticed in his ministry of proclamation. He was a learned man and wanted to be perfect in everything. But God’s grace works differently. The Lord promised Paul that he should not worry about his imperfection but trust in His divine mercy and providence. It is better to depend on God’s help and providence than to glory in one’s perfection and achievements. As he realized that God’s grace would lead him forward, he surrendered himself to divine grace: “But the Lord said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:9-10). Instead of worrying about one’s weakness, one must focus on proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord, for it is the work of the Lord that we are asked to carry out. In the Gospel too, even after realizing that his own hometown people rejected him, Jesus continued to preach the Gospel: “Then he went about among the villages teaching” (Mk 6:6).

The Gospel Reading:

In the Gospel readings of recent Sundays, we saw Jesus spending most of His time in Capernaum and along the Sea of Galilee. In today’s Gospel, however, we witness His return to His hometown. As the saying goes, "familiarity breeds contempt," and this proved true for Jesus. As the carpenter’s son, He experienced rejection and pain among His own townsfolk.

In the Gospel reading, as in the first reading, Mark records the rejection of Jesus by his hometown people. They wondered how Jesus, the prophet, was among them until the age of thirty, and they did not know that they had a prophet amidst them. They only knew that Jesus was a regular visitor to the synagogue and would often read from the Torah. As per Jewish tradition, Jesus was identified as the carpenter’s son: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" (Mk 6:3). But Luke prefers to mention Jesus’ foster father: "Is this not Joseph's son?" (Lk 4:22). His hometown people knew his mother and his relatives as well: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?" (Mk 6:3).

They Took Offense at Him:

But soon they began to hear about his fame, that he was healing many and performing many wonders and miracles and proclaiming the word of God. His words were perfect, and his teaching was authoritative. Now began their doubts. Who is this who speaks to them in their hometown, telling them about God and the fulfilment of times? Until yesterday, he was one among them. But after his baptism at Jordan, he was a changed man, a prophet. Not only a prophet but a prophet mighty in words and deeds (Lk 24:19; 1 Kgs 17:1; 1 Kings 21:20-24; see also Elisha: Mighty in Word and Deed 2 Kings 3:1-4:44). Their doubts were original, but they expressed their disbelief and discontentment: "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done 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 (Mk 6:2-3). Instead of marvelling, they took offense at Jesus.

They Marvelled at His Preaching as a Prophet:

We read in Mk 6:1 that on a Sabbath when Jesus began to teach in the synagogue, many who heard him were astounded at his teaching: "The many listeners were astonished, saying, 'Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him?'" (Mk 6:2). In the Lukan version of this passage, the evangelist adds a little more beauty to the preaching style of Jesus: "And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips" (Lk 4:22). The expression in this verse from Luke is more complete and full of theological significance. Jesus, the promised Messiah, will capture the hearts of his hearers. Still more, in the Lukan version, after the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple, we see Jesus continuing to teach in the Temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people could not do any harm to Jesus, for all the people were hanging on his words (Lk 19:48).

Amazement and Unbelief

The term "amazement" refers to a sense of wonder or marvel. The Gospel writers convey that wherever Jesus went, his preaching, teaching in parables, and healing miracles provoked a profound response of astonishment. People were simply amazed beyond words at the display of his wisdom, authoritative preaching (Mk 1:22; Mt 7:29), and his ability to cast out devils with authority (Mk 3:15; Mt 10:1).  In the New Testament, amazement is normally considered a proper response to divine revelations. However, this amazement soon changed into disbelief because they could not see in Jesus God's anointed one. Their understanding of him was that he was one of their own kind. His presence among them did not invoke a heavenly presence in the hearts of the faithful. They were amazed at his words, while Jesus was amazed at their unbelief. This is why Jesus affirmed the truth that "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." Jesus’ deeds of power were performed as signs of proof of God’s presence. He never performed miracles for the sake of gaining a good name or to impress the crowds. Jesus often performed a miracle or healed someone only as a result of someone's expression of faith. That’s why when he found that his own hometown people did not have faith in him, he did not perform any deeds of power there. Jesus was amazed at their unbelief: "And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief" (Mk 6:5-6a).

Points for Personal Reflection:

Carrying forward the powerful message of God’s word, we understand that there will be rejection, non-acceptance, and open resistance. Am I willing to be a prophet in today’s world? What is my understanding of the prophetic roles of the Old Testament prophets? Am I willing to accept the call of God to do his will despite the non-acceptance of people?

Do I worry about my weakness or trust in God’s help? In my hopelessness and despair, do I have the inner strength to live for God, or do I compromise God’s call due to my weakness? Do I evaluate people based only on human and external achievements?

Jesus the Lord encountered rejection and resistance. In my life of ministry to God, do I trust in God’s promise of grace rather than glory in my own achievements? Do I depend on God’s mercy and providence in my work of proclaiming God’s word? Do I wonder and marvel at the person of Christ for His holy life, teachings, and miracles?

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