14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Ez 2: 2-5; 2 Cor 12: 7-10; Mk 6: 1-6

A bishop was interviewing a senior seminarian before his ordination as deacon, and asked him where he would like to be assigned as a deacon for pastoral training. The seminarian said, somewhat boldly, “Oh, my bishop, anywhere but New Canaan!”

“Why not there,” the bishop asked?

“You know,” the seminarian answered, “That's my hometown – and we all know that 'a prophet is not without honor except in his native place.'” 

The bishop replied, “Don't worry my friend! Nobody in your hometown is going to confuse you with a prophet.”

(The story is from the www.cbcisite.com/)

Biblical tradition reveals that most of God’s prophets have experienced strong resistance and rejection. In the first reading, God warns Ezekiel about the fate of God’s faithful servants. People are rebellious and stubborn; often they would not listen to God’s messengers. Usually, prophets are subjected to physical abuse by wicked people.

The gospel narrates that Jesus himself experienced painful rejection from his own people in Nazareth. The people knew him too well, and they couldn’t accept the fact that their neighbor or kinsman, who merely is a carpenter’s son, could do marvelous deeds and speak in behalf of God in their synagogues. Because the people did not believe in him, Jesus could not perform miracles in his hometown.

The readings would relate easily with our own religious experience as Christians. If we take seriously our commitment to live the values of the Kingdom, there would be times when people misunderstand, reject and ridicule us. The more committed we are, the greater is the chance that we would experience rejection and even persecution.

Like many of God’s messengers, Jesus did not allow people’s indifference and lack of faith to stop him from doing his mission. The same challenge is given to us who are baptized and who share in the prophetic mission of Christ.

As prophets, what are we suppose to do in society?

Basically, prophets are pointers. They point not to themselves but to someone who is greater than themselves. We, as God’s messengers, are to help people know God and understand His plan for their lives. God creates every person for a reason. Jesus tells us that God is a Father in heaven who wants us to relate with him as his beloved children. This is the message that people need to hear today. Henry Nouwen makes us aware of the many voices that seek for our attention:

There is a voice that says, “Prove that you are a good person.” Another voice says, “You’d better be ashamed of yourself.”  There also is a voice that says, “Be sure to become successful, popular, and powerful.” But underneath all these often very noisy voices is a still, small voice that says, “You are my Beloved, my favor rests on you.”  That’s the voice we need most of all to hear. 

Prophets also point people to a broader horizon, to something or someplace beyond this earthly life. As God’s spokespersons, we have to remind people that the world is our temporary home. No one of us is meant to stay here forever. If such is the case, we must not behave and act as if this world is the end thing. Rather, we are to live our life in preparation for the world and the eternal life to come.

Some people would be grateful that we care to share with them our faith; others would simply ignore us; while some others would ridicule us. The words of our Lord Jesus could serve as a consolation: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt 5: 11-12).