14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Reflection by Deacon Matt

Reflection for 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time:  July 4, 2021

(Ezekiel 2:2-5):  Today we see how the Holy Spirit comes upon the prophet and occupies him with the grace of God. Ezekiel relates: “As the Lord spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet.” His being set on his feet strongly  suggests the Spirit’s Will that the prophet begins a mission or journey. The Spirit, with power and wisdom coming from God, enables Ezekiel to hear and proclaim the Word and Will of God. The prophet has been forewarned that people may not be receptive to his message; that, in fact, they may be “hard of face and obstinate of heart.” However, the prophet is reassured that regardless of their level of receptiveness, “they shall know that a prophet has been among them.” This again suggests that there will be a “recognition” in those listening to Ezekiel that he is different, set apart or different in character from them. As they did in the future with Jesus, some will recognize him as a genuine prophet coming from God, while others will see him as a threat of unwelcome change and reject him. Let’s pray to recognize the true prophets among us this day and for discretion to follow them. Let’s pray to be receptive to the truth and to recognize legitimate messages from errant ones that could lead us astray.

(Psalm 123: “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for His mercy.”): In this psalm of servitude, the psalmist acknowledges God’s great superiority and his own inferior status as an obedient and receptive subordinate. This song suggests trust in the Lord for help, as the author expresses hope and confidence in God’s pity or mercy. This psalm ends with a petition to God to be freed from ill treatment and having to endure humiliation and contempt from the psalmist’s owner or captor. Ultimately, this psalm is a plea for salvation and redemption from God.
(2 Cor 12:7-10): This passage begins with a recognition that Paul has been blessed to be the recipient of “extraordinary revelations.” Reflect that being given such a gift, the recipient is in danger of becoming proud or arrogant. Paul may have thought that his having received such supernatural gifts made him “special” or “above” others. Paul recognizes that as a prevention to his becoming inappropriately “proud,” he was instead given some challenge, a “thorn in the flesh” to humble him. There’s speculation that this “thorn” may have been a humbling illness, a disability, or an embarrassing temptation to sin. Whatever it was, Paul concludes that though the thorn was upsetting, it was also a blessing, as it kept him from becoming sinfully proud, arrogant or conceited. What about us? Are we able to look at our crosses and burdens in a new way? Might we begin to see them partially as a gift, bringing us closer to God and farther away from occasions of sin? Think about it.

(Mark 6:1-6):  After reading about Paul’s being humbled, we read in today’s Gospel that even Jesus was humbled. Jesus’ family and neighbors don’t recognize His divinity and status as a God-sent prophet. They see only the carpenter son of Joseph and Mary. They can’t see beyond His apparent ordinariness to recognize the Divine Source of His miracles and wonders.

Reflect that if people wouldn’t listen to Ezekiel, Paul and Jesus, they won’t listen to us, either when we speak out on moral or ethical issues of our day. Nevertheless, we must try. Be prepared to be humbled and exalted!

Encouragingly,

Deacon Matt