FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Reading | Ezekiel 2:2-5
God sends us prophets to encourage us or correct us. Their job is rarely easy. Ezekiel starts off by being reluctant to take up his calling. He is aware that there will be suffering. Prophets end up being martyred by a disapproving constituent. Let us pray that the modern-day prophets persevere in their calling and guide us according to God’s will.
2 As the Lord spoke to me, spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking 3 say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. 4 Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God! 5 And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4
R: Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
1 To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven 2 as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters. (R) As the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord, our God, till he has pity on us. (R) 3 Have pity on us, O Lord, have pity on us, for we are more than sated with contempt; 4 our souls are more than sated with the mockery of the arrogant, with the contempt of the proud. (R)
Second Reading | 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
We have weaknesses and temptations that are difficult to resist. Saint Paul is just like us. What we need to do is continue serving the Lord and let His strength work through our weakness. Our challenge is to remain faithful to the Lord’s call and to trust He will fill in our deficiencies.
7 Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Gospel | Mark 6:1-6
Jesus had difficulties in His ministry. When He returned to His hometown, He was unable to work miracles because the people did not believe in Him. The problem is people think they knew Him—the child who grew up in their midst. But Jesus is now the harbinger of the Gospel. Let us listen to Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Gospel Acclamation
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
1 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 3 Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 5 So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
