July 7, 2024 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6
In the first reading, God commissions Ezekiel to be a prophet to the Israelites, not to prophesy sweet words of comfort, but to deliver challenging truths. God warns Ezekiel that he will encounter a rebellious house, refusing to listen.
In the second reading, St. Paul shares his experience of having a thorn in the flesh, which he begs God to remove three times. However, God’s response is not what Paul expects. Instead of removing the thorn, God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
In the Gospel, Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth, where His people reject Him. Despite His miracles and teachings, they are unwilling to accept Him as the Messiah.
These readings highlight God's sovereignty over human hearts and minds, showcasing His ability to shape us through our experiences. It is both challenging and humbling to realize that we are not in control.
God’s power is not about our strength or accomplishments but about our weakness and vulnerability. When we feel at our lowest, God is often working most powerfully in our lives. His power is made perfect in our weakness.
Jesus’ rejection serves as a reminder that even those closest to us can be blind to the truth of who God is and what He is doing. How do we evaluate our expectations of God’s work in our lives?
God chooses to work through difficult circumstances and unexpected events, and it is our job to trust in His goodness and wisdom.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Jesus was rejected by His people, and Paul struggled with his thorn in the flesh. Yet, despite these challenges, they both continued to trust in God’s sovereignty and power. Like Prophet Ezekiel and Apostle Paul, we are called to God's mission and will receive strength from Him. Are we ready to say ‘yes’ to His call?
Let us continue to realize His power in our vulnerabilities and follow Him more closely. Amen.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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