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June 30, 2021Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -- July 4, 2021 Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6
Our Scriptures last week taught that as we seek to enter into the Kingdom of God we should strive to deepen our faith in the Lord, all the while recognizing that the evil one will continue to tempt us to turn away or even turn back. This week we are cautioned that the journey to grow in faith never ends. The evil one can appeal to our pride and try to convince us that we have done enough, that we are holy and living a holy life. We are to be on guard for contentment and complacency. St Paul reminds us to seek out and give thanks for the “thorn that keeps us from becoming too elated.” The “thorn” which helps us to be humble and to not let us get too full of ourselves should not shame us but spur us to keep growing stronger in our faith and trust in the Lord. Without growth we risk stagnation and backsliding. We are encouraged to seek out, but not dwell on, our weaknesses so that we might continuously grow closer to Christ and enter more deeply into life in the Kingdom of God. As we humbly do so we seek to give glory and honor to the Lord, not for the admiration of others for even Jesus was not recognized in His own hometown for the glorifying works of His life saving ministry. Let us always be on the lookout for ways that we can enter more deeply into the fullness of our faith so that we might have live in an abundance of grace. The world will always present challenges for us and tempt us to sin through offerings of pleasure and comfort that cannot sustain us. As we seek daily to live life in joy and peace, let us remember the words the Lord shared with St. Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Let us approach the day in true humility, so that the power of God’s grace may become perfect in us and so that His abundant love may flow out of us into the lives of those we touch in our families and in our community.
For further reflection on the existence of evil and sin, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 385-389; and on our mission to love through our families, paragraphs 2207-2233, especially 2214-2220 for children and 2221-2231 for parents.- Do I believe that God’s grace is sufficient for me to find joy and peace in my life? The graces flowing from the unconditional love of God the Father are always available to me. How can I live more humbly and deeply in that grace-filled love and share it with my family?
- How confident am I in my ability to defend my faith? In what areas do I feel comfortable sharing my faith? Where do I need to brush up on my ability to help others to see the beauty and truth of God’s plan for their life?
- What can I do in the week ahead to more fully and humbly embrace my mission to love as Christ loves? In my family? In the parish? In the Community?
