Fourteenth Sunday

Fourteenth Sunday Ordinary
July 9, 2006

"Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you." (Exodus 2: 2-5). "... for power is made perfect in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12: 7-10). "... they took offense at him... So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people." (Mark 6: 1-6)

Yahweh warns Moses, in fairly direct language, about his people's tendency to resist accepting what he has to offer them. Whether or not they receive his words, they will know that they have heard the truth about themselves and their relationship with the Most High.

Jesus, in a way similar to Moses, turns up in his home town preaching to the synagogue and, again, the locals cannot believe that one of their own could speak with as much divine authority and power. They are unable to allow him to have any influence on their lives and therefore leave him powerless. We are told that the people "took offense" in spite of recognizing how persuasive he was. I can only think that there was more than a little envy contributing to their response. How could anyone who grew up in such humble circumstances, and therefore easily ignored, possibly have anything worthwhile to tell us. Jesus can only register amazement at this and, apart from a few sick people he leaves them alone. The sick are healthy and the healthy are sick.

We locals know just about everything there is to know. How could anyone (family, coworkers, parishioners, students in other cliques) we have known for years possibly have anything to tell us? We do this to "conservatives" or "liberals", as if the opposing group of outsiders has anything to add to what we already know for sure. We limit our local prophets to what is familiar and acceptable. A great way to stay comfortable, ignorant and isolated.

St. Paul mentions his “thorn in my flesh”, probably referring to some unnamed physical affliction, and declaring his willingness to allow this weakness to become the way God will successfully intervene in his life. Sickness is health, health is sickness. As anyone successfully recovering from an addiction (drugs, alcohol, food, smoking, pornography, anger, etc.) will tell us, acceptance of the problem and powerlessness over it are necessary for healing and recovery. "Willpower" by itself usually does not work. It only sets us up to continually cycle through promises to do better, followed by failure and more guilt, shame and withdrawal from those we love most. I could say something similar about my own affliction. Trying really hard just makes me tired, frustrated and cranky. Acknowledging what I cannot do for myself and asking for help (from the Holy Spirit and other people) energizes me to accomplish things I can actually do for myself. Weakness is power, power is weakness.