My Grace is Sufficient for You ~ by Phyllis Booth
The first Reading opens with the prophet Ezekiel responding to the call of God to go and speak God's word to the Israelites. God wanted the Israelites to repent and follow His prophetic promises and not to continue to rebel against God like their ancestors. God informed Ezekiel that the task would be difficult due to years of rebelling and hardness of the hearts of the Israelites. Ezekiel's message would be so penetrating that they could not deny that a prophet was in their midst. Are there prophets in our midst today?
Our Christian baptism calls us to become Christlike and we receive the Holy Spirit who helps us to seek and hear God's words in our daily life. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be a prophetic voice in our home, at work and in our community when necessary if we open our hearts to receive God's prodding. Yes! There are prophets in our day. We are God's Prophets!
Second Corinthians reveals that St. Paul had this prophetic blessing. St. Paul was able to deliver God's redemptive messages and promises to many churches and citizens of his day. Paul was kept from becoming egotistical by a thorn in his flesh. Although he asked God to relieve him of the pain, God's answer was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."
Do we respond to a difficult lifestyle change with the knowledge that God's Grace is sufficient for us? I don't think so! We tend to try all the suggestions and advice that modern psychology, doctors and friends give before going to God and emptying our hearts and seeking His wisdom. Is this because our Faith is not linked to Christ?
The Gospel of Mark illustrates how Jesus wasn't accepted as a Prophet in His own town. Jesus' neighbors' Faith wasn't very strong. Faith must be linked to Jesus Christ. They blocked their own salvation because they used their minds to form a false conception of Jesus. Therefore Jesus wasn't able to use His wisdom, healing power and skill in His own town. They couldn't conceive that Jesus' words were the voice of God.
God's voice has been described in many forms in the Bible. If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, we know that God's voice is one of Redemption. God wants to love us and give us what is best for us.
~ Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~
Our Christian baptism calls us to become Christlike and we receive the Holy Spirit who helps us to seek and hear God's words in our daily life. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be a prophetic voice in our home, at work and in our community when necessary if we open our hearts to receive God's prodding. Yes! There are prophets in our day. We are God's Prophets!
Second Corinthians reveals that St. Paul had this prophetic blessing. St. Paul was able to deliver God's redemptive messages and promises to many churches and citizens of his day. Paul was kept from becoming egotistical by a thorn in his flesh. Although he asked God to relieve him of the pain, God's answer was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."
Do we respond to a difficult lifestyle change with the knowledge that God's Grace is sufficient for us? I don't think so! We tend to try all the suggestions and advice that modern psychology, doctors and friends give before going to God and emptying our hearts and seeking His wisdom. Is this because our Faith is not linked to Christ?
The Gospel of Mark illustrates how Jesus wasn't accepted as a Prophet in His own town. Jesus' neighbors' Faith wasn't very strong. Faith must be linked to Jesus Christ. They blocked their own salvation because they used their minds to form a false conception of Jesus. Therefore Jesus wasn't able to use His wisdom, healing power and skill in His own town. They couldn't conceive that Jesus' words were the voice of God.
God's voice has been described in many forms in the Bible. If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, we know that God's voice is one of Redemption. God wants to love us and give us what is best for us.
~ Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~
Labels: ordinary time, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Sunday, July 05, 2009
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