Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 28, 2021

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 4, 2021

Independence Day

Deacon Anthony J.  Cincotta

Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Glen Mills, PA

 

Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 2:2-5

Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Mark 6:1-6

 

            Many people identify the Old Testament prophets with today’s “prognosticators,” such as the experts who can give betting odds on sporting events, or even forecasters who can predict the weather for the next thirty days.  A prophet does not so much tell the future as reveals the present conditions which could become better.  The prophet usually offers an alternative way to live as individuals and as a community of God’s holy people.

            Today, the Prophet Ezekiel gets his marching orders directly from God.  God gives him a personality profile of the people whom he will address and it appears to be an almost hopeless assignment.  God does comfort, Ezekiel, by telling him that whether he gets a good response or not, at least they will know that there was a prophet in their midst when he simply says the words, “Thus says the Lord!”

            In the Gospel narrative of Saint Mark, our Lord Jesus is pictured as a prophet returning to His hometown of Nazareth.  We learn very quickly that it wasn’t much of a homecoming.   His neighbors question His family origin, and by doing so, belittle Him as not much to worry about.  They know His family and His background and so they do not have to listen to Him.  Additionally, they couldn’t figure out where Jesus obtained His wisdom and how He as able to perform such miraculous deeds.  They can’t explain therefore they ignore Him.  Our Lord leaves Nazareth in order to visit other places and people who would listen and be taught by Him.  Interestingly, next week’s Gospel has Jesus sending out His friends as prophets whom He instructs to expect to be also rejected.   

Friends, as a rule, most of us do not enjoy being interrupted.  Phone calls, pagers, doorbells, neighbors all disturb our peace.  But what of Jesus?  He climbed into Peter’s boat, entered temples and synagogues, violated traditions, and, in many ways, tried to get the attention of those to whom He was sent.  Saint John wrote in the first chapter of his Gospel, “He came onto His own and His own received Him not.”    Well, guess what?   He is still coming to interrupt our ways of relating, acting and responding to life and to God.

            Sisters and brothers, there are many prophets calling, knocking, and waving to us, asking for more attention, not for them, but for God and His relationship with His people on earth.  May we at least open our ears and listen to what they have to say. 

Question of the Day:  How will you allow the teachings of Jesus to interrupt your life in the ways of a “leave-me-alone” world?  

Prayer:  Lord, free us from sin and bring us to the joy that lasts forever. 

Prosit