We Are Called to Share Our Faith Near and Far

In today's Gospel, we find Jesus proclaiming the Good News in his native place. Although his message was not well received by most, a few came to believe. We, too, are called to share our faith near and far. Sometimes, our efforts will bear little fruit, but at other times, by God's grace, someone may come to faith, and that possibility should encourage us to persevere in this endeavor.

The Lord sends Ezekiel to speak his word to the Israelites who have rebelled against God. Paul shares how Christ's power is revealed through his weaknesses. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches in the synagogue in his native place but can only perform a few healings because those who hear him do not believe.

Paul explains that he was given a thorn in the flesh to "might not become too elated" over the abundance of his visions and divine revelations. The phrase "become elated" could also be "become conceited" or "start lording it over others." Christ specifically condemns lording any merit over others, urging his followers to become servants to one another (cf. Mt 20:25-28; Lk 22:24-27). Paul perceives that, paradoxically, his weaknesses allow the power of Christ to dwell in him and work through him.

The Gospel offers more thoughts on power in a different key. The people of Jesus' hometown struggle to believe that the carpenter's son, who grew up as an ordinary boy in their midst whose family was well known, can speak with such wisdom and perform such mighty deeds. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus cannot do many influential acts among them. He can only heal a few sick people who must have overcome their skepticism to trust their former neighbor. These acts portray power working not so much through weakness as through the familiar and the mundane (a small-town carpenter) and point to the counterintuitive way power works in the kingdom.

Like the people of Nazareth, the people of Israel in Ezekiel's day were offered the chance to turn away from God's offer of salvation or to be forgiven and healed. Having caught a glimpse of God's glory, the prophet Ezekiel has fallen flat on his face. The spirit lifts him to his feet to receive his message for Israel: they are hard-hearted rebels, but they still have the chance to heed God's words rather than resist—to turn and be healed—if only they will call on God to have pity on them, as in the responsorial psalm.

Prophetic work is hard work. All three readings today touch on this theme. Being a voice of prophecy sometimes means that we will need to say hard things, and we will need to say them in places that do not want us or our message. But if it were easy, it would already be done.

Make sure our community hears a message of hope today: one that recognizes this difficult work and provides a safe and supportive place to be nourished and recharged. Remember the need for recharging yourself, too.

Paul chooses to see discomfort as something that keeps him grounded and focused. In fact, he suggests that perhaps those uncomfortable things that are attempting to weaken his mission are actually the things that give him the greatest strength. What is the thorn in your side? How do you use it to anchor you in your mission?

For those who grew up with you, watched you work out life's most awkward phases, and sometimes learn by making mistakes, it can be difficult to see you in any other light. Certainly, seeing you as a prophet seems to be a problematic mental hurdle for those who simply cannot erase the image of you as a child with lots to learn. And yet, you have a prophetic voice. You do have a message that needs to be heard, that can only be proclaimed by you, uniquely and on purpose. Who are the young ones among you who we are failing to see as prophetic voices? What is their message?

Let us all strive to share our faith boldly and with love, knowing that even when our efforts seem small, God can use them to bring about great things.