Homily: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Mark 6:1-6
7 July 2024
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
Last Saturday I was received in what they call a very-PLDM festive fashion with matching street dancing, waving of flags, billboard sized welcome tarps and a fun-filled program after the welcome rite. I am deeply honoured but at the same time challenged to live up to everyone’s expectations. Jesus, on the other hand, did not get a similar kind of welcome from his “kababayans” (townmates) in the gospel passage.
Indeed, Jesus receives a hostile reception from those who are supposed to be more supportive and understanding of Him. “Yeah, we know him, that’s just Jesus!” “There’s nothing special about that local boy.” “What makes him think he can preach in the synagogue and tell us how to live our lives?” They think they know Jesus well enough because they observed Him grow up in their town. They are unable to believe that Jesus could be anything more than the carpenter’s son, much less, the Messiah. “Isn’t this [man] the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary… his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? [and] aren’t all his sisters with us?” (Mark 6:3) Having witnessed Jesus as He was growing up prevented them from believing He could amount to something more, especially not the Messiah they were expecting. Thus, Jesus could only respond: “A prophet is not without honour except in his native place and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4) Their prejudice prevented them from recognising the truth about Him. The saddest part for me is that Jesus was unable to do mighty works in his hometown because of their lack of faith in Him. (Mark 6:5) The people’s initial appreciation of His wisdom and miraculous deeds turned out to be shallow because it quickly turned to hostility and their blatant rejection of Him.
In our First Reading, Ezekiel was warned that he would also be experiencing rejection by God’s people. The Lord clearly warned him to brace himself for opposition as He worked to relay God’s message to the people. Ezekiel was warned that he was being sent to people who are rebellious. “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) To speak the truth has never been easy. This is the sad reality of being a prophet. A prophetic message will always be met with hostility and often the messenger pays a very high price.
These days, there are a good number of brother-priests who are among the most bashed persons in social media simply because they voice out their political views and opinions or call people out for their inconsistency of beliefs. I have a priest-friend who is quite active on social media and very vocal about his political views. The trolls always have a field day with his posts. They harass him online and even “teach” him what he should be doing as a priest. Some of these people are not even Catholics! At one time he responded to these keyboard warriors saying — “And why should we base our priesthood on what trolls like you say about how we should live out our priestly vocation? You don’t read Church documents on priesthood, you don’t even want the truth. It’s permissible for you to kill, to steal, to lie (those that are against God’s commandment according to the Bible). Where do you draw the audacity and arrogance to tell me how to become a priest? LOL!”
Throughout human history this tragic story of Ezekiel and Jesus, and all the other prophets who were rejected, maligned, and killed thereafter, continues to happen over and over again among the messengers of truth and justice in our time. Even Jesus, Himself, had to preach to some pretty tough crowds. Nevertheless, we should not be discouraged. We should still opt to stand for what is right, true and just despite the challenges we encounter. God assures us, as He assured Ezekiel and all the prophets after him that He would bless them with the necessary strength to carry out His message. In our Second Reading, the Lord encourages St. Paul to be zealous in his missionary work in spite of his limitations. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Eventually, St. Paul would say: “Therefore, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of the Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Brothers and sisters, God cares so much for His people that He sends messengers to call out His people for their wrongdoing and to set them straight. Sometimes, the Lord uses the most unlikely people to serve as His prophets. Sometimes, He might even use you! Let us pray today for discernment to recognise His prophets, and the courage to speak the truth and advocate for what is right in God’s eyes.
Sunday Gospel Reflections 