FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mk 6:1-6 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." (Mk 6:4)

READING OF THE DAY

First reading from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel

Ez 2:2-5

As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me

and set me on my feet,

and I heard the one who was speaking 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.

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!

And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—

they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Second reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

2 Cor 12:7-10

Brothers and sisters:

That I, Paul, might not become too elated,

because of the abundance of the revelations,

a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,

to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.

Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,

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.

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 OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark

Mk 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.

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!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,

and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?

And are not his sisters here with us?”

And they took offense at him.

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.”

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.

He was amazed at their lack of faith.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mk 6:1-6

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In God's word today, He wants to convey to all humanity that it is His strength and power that spreads in this world; on those God the Father has chosen. Especially regarding the prophets He called to collaborate in His works. That comes from the love and mercy of God the Father for all humanity. If it were not for His love for humans, then His spirit and power will not be shown on the prophets!

Even higher than that, the only Son of God the Father has come down to earth as a human, to love, to redeem humanity from the death of Satan. This is what God the Father wants all creatures which He created to have to believe, have to know how to praise and glorify God, have to know how to thank Him for His love and for Him to suffer and die in order to redeem humanity, it was this power and love of sacrifice that defeated Satan.

God the Father calls people to stop hardening their hearts, return to God, listen and believe in Jesus Christ, believe in His teachings, believe in His very life and power on this earth. In this time, from the beginning of the world until now, He has always been with humanity.

God the Father wants people not to fall into Satan's traps which is going against God's will, against the love of Jesus Christ: not believing in the death and resurrection of God's only Son, not believing in the power and love that healed all human diseases and infirmities, dispelled all Satan's imprisonments, and brought the dead back to life.

God the Father calls people to: abandon the path of sin, abandon the passions of lust, flesh, power, glory and honor in this world. Only then will people open their hearts to receive the Spirit and the light of the Holy Spirit, helping people correctly follow God the Father's instructions; leading people into a life of justice, charity and love. Through that, people come to God the Father to be loved, kept, protected and given life in the Kingdom of Heaven. On the contrary, if people still live in sinful passions and desires, then their souls will be controlled by Satan, and will be closed tightly and not able to receive the light of God's Word, and will not receive the grace of the Holy Spirit which is eternal life.

God the Father wants us to know how to bow down and prostrate ourselves before God the Father and thank Him, asking Him to give us more faith, hope, and love God the Father above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves, so that we have enough strength to fight the vastly sophisticated and cunning Satan on this earth. Thus when God calls us back, we will be with Him forever in His eternal Kingdom.

Thanks be to God. Amen.