God’s Misunderstood Messengers

Homily: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 6:1-6

4 July 2021

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

“We see things not as they are, but as we are.” I shall say it again…“We see things not as they are, but as we are.” That’s by British writer Henry Major Tomlinson.  I agree with him! You see, if we are honest with ourselves, our understanding of the world is influenced by our prejudices, our intolerances, our biases. Sometimes that keeps us from seeing the truth for what it is. 

The people in today’s gospel passage are portrayed as such. They think they know Him  well enough because He grew up in their town. They are unable to believe that Jesus could be anything more than the carpenter’s son they know Him to be, much less, the Messiah.  “Isn’t this [man] the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary… his brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas? [and] aren’t all his sisters with us?” (Mark 6:3) In the first reading, the people to whom Ezekiel is sent by God are no different. Ezekiel is warned that he is being sent to a rebellious people. “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 whom I am sending you.”  (Ezekiel 2:3-4)

It is unfortunate to note that many modern-day prophets in our midst continue to be criticised, maligned, and misjudged by others. In some countries like the Philippines, beauty queens or athletes who win prestigious competitions abroad, receive a hero’s welcome in their hometown. There are parades and motorcades and many people lining the streets to catch a glimpse of them and wave at them. They are overjoyed for the honor that this instant celebrity brings to their town.  It is however, different for prophets who, by nature, articulate and give voice to the inconvenient truth that people do not want to acknowledge. They throw a light on our blindspots and show us where we are failing in order to help us recognise ways and means by which we can improve ourselves and escape from difficult or less ideal situations. I have a few examples for you. First, back in the 1940s medical professionals first proved that cigarette smoking was causing lung cancer. However, since the Tobacco Industry was big business worldwide and even doctors had taken up the habit, the world was in denial for decades. It was only in 2011 that stern warnings and graphic pictures were printed on cigarette packaging. Despite that, statistics show that 8 Million people die annually from tobacco smoking related disease. In the Philippines alone, 110,000 Filipinos die yearly from smoking-related diseases. (That’s more than the number of those felled by this COVID pandemic.) Despite these figures, many young people still take up the habit. Another example is Mother Teresa who was a prophet of sorts, whose actions spoke louder tham her words.  Her life work shone a spotlight on the plight of the poor and the suffering in India, drawing support and compassion for from a world that had become indifferent. When she was starting out, she suffered criticism and the local church and government authorities in Calcutta were not eager to support her. At the time of her death, the Missionaries of Charity was operating 610 missions in 123 countries. 

We too, have prophetic missions among the circles we move in and oftentimes, we are immediately criticized and ostracized by friends, family and colleagues. They can not separate the value of the message from the person of the messenger. We are known to them a certain way, imperfections and all. Divine awakenings and a call to prophesy do not automatically come with a seal of approval or expert accreditation. It can be difficult for others to accept warnings and counsel from someone they deem inexperienced, too young, too idealistic,  ignorant, OA (over-acting) or flawed.   Nevertheless, we should not shrink back and hold our tongue, especially when God is obviously sending us to people out of His love for them. In the Second Reading, Paul is painfully aware of his inadequacies but he perseveres quoting God’s assurance to him “My grace is sufficient for you, for power 

is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

If we find ourselves called to prophecy, we have to expect that our efforts will not yield immediate fruits. I read somewhere that “If we are prejudiced against a person, that person can do nothing right in our eyes. If we are prejudiced in favour of a person, that person can do nothing wrong in our eyes.”  Jesus was not able to perform any mighty deed in His native place because of their bias towards Him. His “kababayans” could not see past His human origins (probably thinking he was that quiet child of Mary, one of the local kids who played in the streets, the local carpenter who took after his father, Joseph’s, trade).  Expect that those you minister to will continue in denial and refusal to acknowledge their mistakes and they will not recognise you as the prophet in their midst. Oftentimes, we are not called to stand on street corners and yell at the top of our lungs. Perhaps, all that is asked of us is to speak up against an injustice, offer a gentle reminder to be conscientious and compassionate to one’s self or others, or render a clear reprimand for bad behavior. Sometimes, all we are asked to do is plant the seed of realization in someone’s heart and allow God to grow it in His time. 

Brothers and sisters, let us pray for courage when He calls us to be a prophet to His people. May He give us the grace to acknowledge prophetic truths and be sensitive to God speaking to us in the people around us. Moreover, let us help one another  welcome God’s messengers of truth in our realities and to respond to the gift of divine revelation with humility.