14th Sunday, Ordinary Time

Today, as is every day, is about God’s power and our weakness.

The Spirit entered and I was set on my feet.  Isn’t this the fundamental truth of our baptism.  Isn’t this the fundamental truth of our Christian life.

Through baptism our orientation is set.  Our interior compass is aligned always pointing towards the coming Kingdom, always pointing towards the Lord. This orientation, this compass of ours, is Grace.

And this grace is no different from the assurance the Lord gave St Paul  “my grace is sufficient for you”.

Paul was content with the tools he had to work with.  He was content with who he was knowing grace builds on nature.  Grace works with tools at its disposal, namely you and I.

We should face this world in confidence for God’s grace is surly sufficient for you and I.  But, it’s tough work and it seems daunting much of the time.  This is nothing new.

Jesus returns home and with the twelve.  He attends the synagogue where he spoke with a new authority. 

Jesus spoke not only deepening the understanding of the Torah, but also deepening and expanding the understanding of the Law, pointing out that the law was made for man and not man for the Law.

Some would surly have thought him a teacher or even prophet.  But others would of said “wait a minute.  We know Jesus.  What Rabbinical school did he attend?  He is only a carpenter’s son, a worker with his hands, not with his head.  Where is his lineage, He is only the son of Mary.  A good man to be sure, but holy, I don’t think so”

Jesus responds “A prophet is not without honor, except in his native place” And he was amazed at their lack of Faith. We hear that because of this public lack of faith Jesus was unable to perform any miracles there except individually, almost hidden, but where it was most needed “to heal the sick”.This Gospel account is not so much about Jesus as it is about us. 

Today’s account always reminds me of other words of Jesus concerning faith. "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." It is clear that our faith (whatever its size), our belief (however deep) is a key part of the ongoing work of Christ.  Our openness to the new and unexpected and our wiliness to experience a change of heart and mind is critical to the process of on-going conversion in ourselves and in others, which in turn moves mountains. 

Nothing can be accomplished in an atmosphere of mistrust and misguided stubbornness. 

Nothing can be learned if our pride tells us we already know it all or our envy denies what is true and good.

We know Jesus would run into mistrust, pride and envy throughout his ministry.  It brought him to his passion.  Those in his home town (who should of known better) who perhaps had heard the stories or perhaps had heard Jesus himself teach or maybe even witness His works would still belittle him and doubt him.He would be doubted and harassed by the Pharisees.  Their pride and envy clouded their vision as they preferred being honored among men rather than saving men.

 

The Early Church used the story as encouragement to the faithful because there were those who would deny them, or brush them aside or even hate them for their faith.

If the Son of God was not recognized, by those who heard him and saw him, than certainly the Church would be denied and ridiculed and as we see today ignored and pushed aside as irrelevant.

Today, we, who believe though have not seen him, witness, in and through our lives, that yes, Jesus is the son of Mary but also the Son of God and through His Spirit our lives have been changed and we are enabled to continue his work.

Like Paul we all have our weaknesses and defects.  Many of us not only have a thorn in our side, but an entire rosebush that we are tangled up in. We are indeed scratched and bloodied, but unbent.To be human is to be imperfect.  To be human is to strive towards perfection.To be human is having been made in God’s image and readymade to receive His Son into our life.

This is what Ezekiel means “The Lord spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet”

We know Ezekiel’s road was tough and ours can be too.  But, no matter how much; ridicule, doubt, road blocks, attacks, no matter how many hardened faces and obstinate hearts we encounter, we hold to our faith, and like Paul we are content with the struggle within ourselves and with the structures of sin and with a world that finds it easier not to believe.

We are content because the life of the Holy Spirit within us is sufficient and up for the task.

Jesus’ mission, through the Church, through you and I, will continue.  The on rushing Kingdom of God cannot be stop; not by politics, not by culture, not by society.  Yes, His Church can be sidetracked and hindered by the dynamics of this world, but never extinguished or denied what she does best - to witness the good news, that Jesus is the risen Lord.

Wherever we find ourselves and whoever we meet, even when we find ourselves. like Jesus, without honor in our native place we stand up for what we believe and live our faith in full view in the light of day, but always with generosity and charity to others who hinder us, meeting them where they are not where we wish them to be.  

However it plays out in our time and place, whatever obstacles (private or public) that are placed in our way, no matter how we stumble and fall, we know we have to the best of our ability been lights of faith for the good of the world and when we are the Lord’s words to Ezekiel will ring true for each one of us - 

“Whether they heed or resist they shall know that a prophet has been among them.”

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