14 Sunday Ordinary Time Year B

14 Ordinary Time – Year B


2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; (or Ezekiel 2:1-5; Psalm 123); 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13

“The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls and whispered in the sounds of silence.” – Paul Simon

                Don’t expect cousin Charley to think you are a prophet.  He knew you when you were a kid.  That’s what happened in Nazareth.  Jesus went to his hometown, got up in the synagogue early one Saturday morning, and spoke few words.  The folks that Jesus had known his whole life were impressed.  But they were not that impressed.  They said in effect: Who does he think he is?  We know him.  He’s the carpenter, Mary’s kid.  (Mark 6:2-3)  Then we have Jesus’ immortal memorable come back: “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” (Mark 6:4)  The words “in their own house” imply that even Jesus’ own immediate family did not accept who he was and what he was about.  Our passage for today has two parts.  First Jesus is rejected.  Then he sends his disciples out two by two to carry on his work.  Thanks a lot.  Is this what we have to look forward to?  Jesus answer is yes.  He tells his disciples, and us, that if we are unwanted shake the dust from our feet and move on. (Mark 6:11)  If we live long enough, all of us will be rejected for who we are, in one way or another.  This does not mean that we are out there being preachy in a door to door obnoxious way.  If we are true to ourselves in an honest but loving manner there will always be someone who will reject us.  It may be because we are gay or straight, black or white, Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, male or female, Catholic or Baptist, employed or unemployed, fat or skinny.  There will always be someone, with their own poor self-image, snubbing us.  Count on it.  Some things in time may change, like being unemployed or poor or Republican or Catholic.  Other things will not change like being black, gay or female.  But whatever we are at this moment is what God loves, and is speaking through.  We are blessed by God, and by our very being speak of God’s love without even using words, just by being loving.  Jesus says if we are rejected move on.  But if we more on don’t’ think all is lost or we have failed.  If we move on without rancor, resentment, animosity or malice, but with love and self-possession we will leave behind a message from God.  After we have gone on our way the good seeds we have sown will be “written on the subway walls and tenement halls and whispered in the sounds of silence.”  We are prophets by being who we are. (see Greek below)

Greek

The word for “prophet” in Greek is a compound word with two parts meaning “to speak for,” in this case to speak for God, just as the sun in the sky speaks for God by being what it is.  We too can radiate the presence of God by simply being true to ourselves.  Then we are prophets, speaking for God.

Haiku

The sun shines God blessed.

The flower blossoms God blessed.

Why slight these prophets?

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N obody likes a smart aleck. Particularly if the person concerned is one of us, one who seems to act as if she or he is in some way better than the rest. Even if it is true, we insist that that person should not flaunt it. Today’s readings all sketch the profile of a messenger of God, someone called from the group to speak God’s word to that group. They also describe the rejection that these messengers had to endure. Those chosen by God are compelled by the force of their call; those to whom they are sent respond: Who does he think he is?



A prophet is not one who looks into the future, but one who has insight into the present. The biblical prophets were always members of the community who were called by God to speak to that community. It was not difficult to accept them when their message was affirming. But when they criticized the community and challenged it to repentance and reform, the messenger was often rejected along with the message. This was the case with both Ezekiel and Jesus. The prophetic mantle was, and continues to be, a heavy one to bear.

The reading from Corinthians does not address the opposition that Paul experienced from others. In fact, it presumes that he has been quite successful in his ministry. Rather, this reading highlights the need to turn to God in the face of any kind of trial. Paul suffered from “a thorn in the flesh”; Ezekiel was sent to a people who were “hard of face and obstinate of heart”; it was the people of Jesus’ own home town who “took offense at him.” In each case God could certainly say: “My grace is sufficient for you.”

These readings can hit home to us in two very different ways. In some circumstances, we might be the ones who are closed to the insights of others, insights that could open our lives to new and exciting possibilities. Why are we jealous of the gifts God may have given to others and not to us? Rejecting them is really our loss!

In other circumstances, we might be the ones who feel unappreciated, overlooked or actually rejected because of some ability we genuinely possess or some service we wish to offer. At such times, we might act as did Paul, begging God to remedy the situation. But such prayers are seldom answered as we would like, and so we too must rely on the divine promise: “My grace is sufficient for you.” If we accept that grace, we will discover the truth of that promise—God’s grace is indeed sufficient.