14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this
discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that
passage.
1st Reading - Ezekiel 2:2-5
The Book of Ezekiel is one of four books of the major prophets (Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel); the three greatest being Isaiah, Ezekiel
and Daniel. These three are now placed in chronological order in our
Bibles, but the Talmud speaks of an earlier order in which Jeremiah was
first and Isaiah was last: “Jeremiah is all doom; Ezekiel begins
with doom but ends with consolation; while Isaiah is all
consolation.” This early arrangement was built on moving from
doom to hope with Ezekiel in the middle as the hinge (or dividing line)
between the two. The book of Ezekiel itself divides into two equal
parts: Chapters 1 through 24 are oracles of judgment against Israel;
and chapters 25 through 28 propose a variety of words of support and
hope.
Ezekiel (the name means “may God strengthen”) claims to
have started his ministry in 593 B.C. and his last dated prophecy is in
571 B.C. What was going on during this time? In 598 B.C. the Babylonian
army sacked Jerusalem and took King Jehochin prisoner. Nebuchadnezzar,
King of Babylon, appointed Zedekiah (Jehochin’s uncle) as
king-regent. King Jehochin, the wealthy, and the craftsmen (along with
Ezekiel) were deported to Babylon. Zedekiah planned a rebellion, this
act broke his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar. This time, the Babylonian
siege lasted from 589 to 586 B.C. and wiped out all of Judah’s
cities before taking Jerusalem itself (2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 37-45, 52).
The bulk of Ezekiel’s ministry took place between 593 and 586
B.C., during the reign of King Zedekiah and the period of devastation
that followed the fall of Jerusalem. Our reading for today takes place
early in Ezekiel’s ministry (about 593 B.C.).
2 As he [the Lord] spoke to me, spirit entered into me
To bridge the gap between God and man, God’s spirit (ruah) enters
into Ezekiel, strengthening him to be attentive to the message of God.
The prophet could not endure a direct experience of God any more than
Moses had (Exodus 33), which makes a divine empowering necessary.
Compare this to Revelation 1:10.
and set me on my feet,
Ezekiel is conscious of being moved by the Spirit in his prophetic task.
and I heard the one who was speaking 3 say to me: Son of man,
There is no messianic connotation in the use here (this phrase is used
93 times in Ezekiel). Man, mortal flesh, is contrasted to God, immortal
Spirit. They are different is substance, alike in form.
I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against
me; they and their fathers 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!
God charges Ezekiel with the mission to speak the word of God to a
people so hardened in disobedience that they will not listen; rather,
they will oppose him as a deadly enemy. But, as charged both in the
call of Moses and Jeremiah, the prophet is to speak despite all
opposition.
5 And whether they heed or resist – for they are a rebellious
house – they shall know that a prophet has been among them.
The people may ignore the prophet’s words even though they
originate from God, but Ezekiel’s presence speaks harsh realities
that cannot be ignored.
2nd Reading - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
This is the fourth letter which Saint Paul has written to the
Corinthians. The first is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:9 but has been
lost. The second is what we call 1 Corinthians and was written in the
spring of A.D. 57. The third letter is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:4
and is also lost. What we know as 2 Corinthians is the fourth letter
and is thought to have been written in the autumn of 57.
This week we are looking at the part of his letter (chapters 10 through
13) where Saint Paul addresses the lies being spread by his enemies
(the Judaizers). Because those who have denied his authority are still
living in Corinth, he deals item-by-item with the lies and gives the
faithful more than enough arguments to answer his detractors. This
rebuttal also acts as a preparation for his next, his third, visit to
Corinth in early 58.
7 [T]hat I 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.
This is widely interpreted as a psychic or physical ailment, which in
Jewish tradition, was caused by a demon or by Satan. However,
“thorn” in the Old Testament means enemies (his persecutors
have caused him great pain because it has caused hostility within the
community). In either case, he feels that it is an impediment to his
work as an apostle.
8 Three times
The number three is indicative of completion in Hebrew numerology, it should have been sufficient.
I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
Past tense – now he accepts
9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
Grace is defined here as power in relation to 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.
He has accepted weakness as a means of gaining grace.
Gospel - Mark 6:1-6a
This account takes place early in Jesus’ public ministry in
Galilee. He is now in Nazareth, his home town. What we hear today is
the story of Jesus’ rejection by His own people. Parallel gospel
accounts are Matthew 13:53-58; John 4:44; 6:42; 7:13, 15.
6:1 He 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!
Reminiscent of the finding in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) and teaching in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28).
3 Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
A sign of derision. Jewish lineage is through the father. This is a round-about way of calling Him illegitimate.
“Jesus came as the son of a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). He was not
physically attractive, just as the prophets had predicted of Him
(Isaiah 53:2). He was merely a carpenter, making plows and yokes, and
instructing us by such symbols of righteousness to avoid an inactive
life.” [Saint Justin the Martyr (ca. A.D. 155), Dialogue With
Trypho The Jew, 7,7].
and the brother of
“Brother” does not necessarily mean son of the same
parents. Hebrew and Aramaic have no word for cousin or nephew, or other
close male relative, other than “brother.” For example in
Genesis 13:8 and 14:14, 16, Lot is called the brother of Abraham but
Genesis 11:26-27 tells us that Lot’s father was Haran who had the
same father, Terah, as Abram (Abraham). This would make Abraham
Lot’s uncle.
James and Joses
The sons of Mary, the wife of Clopas (John 19:25)
and Judas
Son of James (Luke 6:16)
and Simon?
A Canaanite (Matthew 10:4)
When He was dying on the altar of the cross, Jesus entrusted his
mother, Mary, to Saint John. If Mary had had other children, Hebrew
tradition would have demanded that she be placed under their care.
And are not his sisters here with us?”
They aren’t named but the same word is used for all female close relatives in Hebrew and Aramaic.
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.”
Jesus was in His own part of the country, surrounded by close relatives
– cousins, aunts, uncles. People didn’t move around much in
those days.
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.
Not necessarily that He was unable to, but as punishment for unbelief.
Remember, He had just come from three miracles (stilling the water,
healing the sick, casting out demons) where He had been highly
acclaimed.
“Two things must coincide for the reception of healing: the faith
of those who need healing, and the power of him who will heal. If
either of these are wanting, the blessing of a cure will not readily be
attained.” [Pseudo-Victor of Antioch (5th century), Commentary on
Mark 6]
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org