{"id":2156,"date":"2024-07-13T08:28:59","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T13:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/?page_id=2156"},"modified":"2025-04-04T10:22:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T14:22:36","slug":"the-fourteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/07\/13\/the-fourteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2156\" class=\"elementor elementor-2156\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8d22d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"52955\" data-id=\"b8d22d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99f195b\" data-eae-slider=\"38456\" data-id=\"99f195b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c77524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c77524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29335d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"27829\" data-id=\"29335d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2633fe8\" data-eae-slider=\"35158\" data-id=\"2633fe8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99c059b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"99c059b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac32618 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac32618\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading I<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ce29ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ce29ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ezekiel\/2?2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ezekiel 2:2-5<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: 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 to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! And whether they heed or resist\u2014for they are a rebellious house\u2014 they shall know that a prophet has been among them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-568d889 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"568d889\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Responsorial Psalm<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-352e7ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"352e7ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/123?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/><em><strong>R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.<\/strong><\/em> <br \/>To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven \u2014 As the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters. <br \/><em><strong>R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.<\/strong> <\/em><br \/>As the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, So are our eyes on the LORD, our God, till he have pity on us.<br \/><em><strong>R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us, for we are more than sated with contempt; our souls are more than sated with the mockery of the arrogant, with the contempt of the proud. <br \/><em><strong>R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ffa7f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0ffa7f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading II<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cc15548 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"69777\" data-id=\"cc15548\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-060206b\" data-eae-slider=\"46404\" data-id=\"060206b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dc261d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dc261d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/2corinthians\/12?7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2 Corinthians 12:7-10<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.\u201d I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87353ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"87353ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Alleluia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff46c7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"95387\" data-id=\"ff46c7f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b74efa\" data-eae-slider=\"63685\" data-id=\"8b74efa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c71559 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c71559\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/luke\/4?18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Cf. Luke 4:18<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>R. Alleluia, alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor. R. Alleluia, alleluia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-055ecc5\" data-eae-slider=\"31409\" data-id=\"055ecc5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc12a73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc12a73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e16f610 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e16f610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/6?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mark 6:1-6<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, \u201cWhere did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?\u201d And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, \u201cA prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.\u201d So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7016bb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7016bb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exegesis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e224d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e224d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ezekiel\/2?2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ezekiel 2:2-5<\/strong><\/a><\/span><br \/>Ezekiel was a cultic priest of Israel who was among the exiles deported by Nebuchadnezzar in the year 597 B.C.. Our passage today is the call of Ezekiel by God to be His Prophet. He is in Baby-lon by the river Chebar in the land of the Chaldeans. He is the first prophet to be called outside of the Holy Land.<br \/>Ezekiel experiences a rather profound experience of God, \u201cThere the hand of the Lord came upon me.\u201d (Ez 1:3). Amid the theophany Ezekiel fell on his face. In the bible our pericope begins, \u201cWhen I had seen it, I fell upon my face and heard the voice that said to me: Son of man, stand up! I wish to speak with you.\u201d (Ez 2:1).<br \/>Ezekiel felt the Spirit of God enter him. God calls him son of man, an expression that appears 90 times in Ezekiel. The title clarifies that it is the voice and the Spirit of God that is speaking through an earthen, human vessel. It is God\u2019s initiative to speak to His chosen people. He is choosing, calling, and sending Ezekiel. In subsequent verses Ezekiel is giving a scroll of the Word of God that he literally consumes. He is called to embody the Word of God in his being. The scroll is entitled, Lamentation and Wailing and Woe. (Ez 2:9).<br \/>Ezekiel is warned by God that his task was not going to be easy and his message not going to be received well. In fact, he is warned of rebellion, of obstinate hearts and of rejection. He is warned that he will be sitting on scorpions, i.e., he will be under attack, and he is assured by God that he has nothing to fear, because the hand of God is with him.<br \/>God acknowledges that some will heed and some will resist. Ezekiel\u2019s job is to deliver the mes-sage and convince them that God is the sender, and that he is just the messenger. His initial prophesy is not a popular one. God calls out their infidelity and informs them of the coming de-struction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel\u2019s job is to be a messenger of Truth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acdbdbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"acdbdbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/123?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>This is a rare occasion where an entire Psalm is proclaimed at Mass. Psalm 123 consists of 4 verses. The psalm is entitled, Reliance on the Lord, a Song of Ascents. \u201cTo You I raise my eyes.\u201d Our eyes are fixed on the hand of the master or the hand of the mistress, which provides an analo-gy for the hand of God. From the hand of God comes power, grace and salvation. The image of turning our focus toward God beautifully ties our readings together this weekend. Ezekiel turns to God, St. Paul looks to God in his weakness, and Jesus turns to His Father as He experiences obstacles and rejection.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e6f3db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e6f3db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/2corinthians\/12?7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2 Corinthians 12:7-10<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Paul is addressing the Church of Corinth that is experiencing some turmoil and is being misled by various leaders. He is facing opposition in his ministry and in his preaching. He speaks of oppo-nents, false apostles, deceitful and even satanic activity infiltrating the Church at Corinth.<br \/>Paul states that he could boast of the personal revelations and experiences of Christ, e.g. his con-version\/calling at Damascus. Paul speaks of profound theophanies that others have shared with him, e.g., 12:1-4. Yet, Paul choses to speak of the power of God working through his weakness, which is evidence of Christ working through him.<br \/>Paul boasts of A thorn in the flesh: This is widely interpreted as a psychic or physical ailment, which in Jewish tradition was caused by demon or by Satan. The two phrases, however, are not causally related but stand in opposition, suggesting an external personal source of affliction, which is confirmed by the use of thorns in the OT to enemies, e.g., Num 33:55.<em><strong>1<\/strong><\/em><br \/>Jesus said to him, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.\u201d The word that we translate as perfect is teleo in the original Greek. The etymology of the word sug-gests that at its deepest level it means the fulfillment of the purpose for which God created and intends it to be, e.g. to reach an end or fulfillment intended by its manufacturer. For Paul to be-come perfect is his role as an apostle for Christ he must decrease, and Christ must increase. In Paul\u2019s own words, \u201cI have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.\u201d (Gal 2:20). Therefore, in Paul\u2019s humanity and weakness the power of Christ can be seen with greater clarity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6aab35f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6aab35f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/6?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mark 6:1-6<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. His recent journey took him across the Sea of Galilee into gentile territory and most recently he returned to the west side of the Sea. There he was met by Jairus who was pleading for his daughter who was dying and subsequently died. On route to the home of Jairus He was confronted by the woman with the hemorrhage of 12 years. Jesus healed the woman and proceeded on to raise the little girl back to life. Now He has left that place and moved on to a synagogue in Nazareth. Word of His teachings and His miracles, i.e., calming the sea, driving out demons, healing the sick, raising dead, must have preceded Him as He journeyed home.<br \/>His teaching in the synagogue is such that the people were astonished. There was something in and flowing through Him that was not human, or familiar or natural; that was recognizable to those who were there. They ask about the source of the wisdom that is flowing through Him. The word for wisdom is Sophia in the original Greek. It is the only time the word appears in Mark\u2019s gospel. The word Sophia would have been recognizable as it is used throughout the OT to speak of the Spirit of God.<br \/>\u201cWhat mighty works are wrought by His hands!\u201d The word translated as mighty works is dyna-mis in the Greek which is often translated as miracle in the NT. It is also related to the power of God or of God\u2019s word to effect reality. The power of the hand of God is also alluded to in this question.<br \/>Jesus is all too familiar to them; they know His mother and his family. One of the most debated historical issues over the centuries has been this section referring to Christ\u2019s brothers and sisters. St. Jerome explains that Mark is referring to cousins of Jesus, perhaps the children of Mary\u2019s sis-ter.<br \/>Jesus entered a synagogue in Galilee in Mark 1:21 and His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee. (Mk 1:28) In Mark 3:1 Jesus again enters a synagogue, and He heals the man with a withered hand on the sabbath\u2026 and the Pharisees and Herodians took counsel against Him to put Him to death. Jesus enters the synagogue in Nazareth as reported in the 6th Chapter of Mark (today\u2019s gospel) and He is rejected. In the Gospel of Mark this is Jesus\u2019 final synagogue appearance. The pericope is entitled The Rejection at Nazareth. The rejection is clearly the overriding theme. It is an echo of the OT motif of the rejected prophet (2 Chr 24:19; 36:16; Neh 9:26, 3o; Jer 35:15, Ez 2:5; Hos 9:7; Dan 9:6, 10) which Luke expands into a major theme of his gospel (see especially Luke 4:16-30)<em><strong>2<\/strong><\/em><br \/>He was not able to do any mighty deeds there and He was amazed at their lack of faith are intri-cately related. In His recent prior mighty deeds, i.e. the curing of the woman with a hemorrhage and the raising of Jairus\u2019 daughter, Jesus said to the woman, \u201cYour faith has saved you\u201d; and to Jairus, \u201cDo not be afraid, just have faith.\u201d Jesus still retains the power to do mighty works in the face of disbelief. What He cannot do is compel acceptance.<em><strong>3<\/strong><\/em><br \/>He was amazed at their lack of faith. The Greek word for amazed is ethaumazen which is often used to describe the positive reactions to the mighty works or miracles of Jesus. The word for lack of faith or unbelief is apistis. The word typically used for belief of faith is pistis. As it ap-pears throughout the NT it means something more than the surface definition of an ascent of a truth or the recital of a creed. It means to accept the gift of and to remain connected to the Spirit of God. God is love and love requires free choice. Foundational spiritual physics dictate that God does not impede our free will. We can chose to accept or reject the prophet in our midst. We can chose to accept or reject God. We can accept or reject the gift of life itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33fbe9c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"33fbe9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56b6916 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56b6916\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><em>1. Brown, Fitzmyer, Murphy; The New Jerome Biblical Commentary; P.H.; N.J.; page 828.<br \/>2. Donahue, Harrington; Sacra Pagina Series, The Gospel of Mark; L.P.; Collegeville, MN; page 185.<br \/>3. Ibid., page 186.<br \/><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f41bf79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f41bf79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflection<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d266f89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d266f89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This weekend our readings, as usual, challenge us to focus more intently on God. Our Psalm, as it often does, pulls together the readings and the message, \u201cOur eyes are fixed on the Lord.\u201d The question is, \u201cAre they?\u201d Are our eyes fixed on the Lord?<br \/>It has been said that pride is the root of all evil. At its deepest level pride involves an in-ward look which causes us to look toward our own ego and in effect turn away from God. True humility is coming to know and understand our total dependence on God. It means coming to know our identity as a creature in need of a creator. Humility causes us to fix our eyes on the Lord.<br \/>In first reading today the Prophet Ezekiel gives full credit to the Holy Spirit which \u201centered into him.\u201d The Prophet was faced with great rejection and had to feel powerless and ineffective. In his weakness and humility, the power of God shines through him. Whether the people heed or resist him, they know that God is with him and in him and speaking through him.<br \/>In our second reading St. Paul speaks of a very similar experience. He reveals to us his own personal suffering and his experience of rejection and failure. The suffering comes both from within him, and from external forces. He is humbled by an internal anguish that scholars have speculated about for centuries. Whatever it was it was a chronic condition that brought him much pain and suffering. He also experienced tremendous agony from violent opposition that he experienced, to the point of physical beatings and imprisonment. Like Jesus the real passion that he felt was the suffering of the heart and soul that comes from the rejection of the love of God that was flowing in and through him.<br \/>In their stress and struggles, both the Prophet Ezekiel and the Apostle Paul, turn toward their source of inner strength and being. Their eyes are fixed on the Lord. God is the source of their inner strength and they come to a deeper understanding of that precisely in their weakness, struggles and failures. Through it all Ezekiel knows that God is with him and the Lord assures Paul, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you.\u201d<br \/>In today\u2019s Gospel Jesus Himself experiences the sorrow of rejection in His own native place. Their lack of faith brings deep sadness to His heart and soul. His own passion is something that He experiences not only on the Cross but throughout His human experience. Ultimately the Cross of Calvary will be for all of time the point of human weakness that will radiate the power of God for all eternity.<br \/>Again, this weekend God is reminding us to trust in Him. God wants us to know, what-ever storms and afflictions this world can throw at us, that His love is more powerful and that His grace is sufficient for us. To put on the heart and mind of Jesus is to humble our-selves so that we might fix our eyes on the Lord. From this vantage point of dependence, we can only look up to see a loving Father already and forever holding us in His arms. No won-der Jesus said, \u201cYou must become like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Yours in the Holy Spirit,<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34bae4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34bae4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Personal Witness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa924a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa924a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ten years ago, I gathered with my seminary classmates for an anniversary celebration and retreat. Our seminary rector, Monsignor John Canary joined us as our retreat director. It was a joy filled and very prayerful time for all of us. We were able to reminisce on our seminary experiences and share our experiences of priesthood. One of the first questions that Msgr. Canary asked us was, \u201cWhat was the most notable surprise of your first 15 years of priesthood, or what caught you most off guard, or what did you feel least prepared for?\u201d To a man everyone said, \u201cThe level of resistance and opposition to the faith.\u201d That question initiated several hours of discussion.<br \/>I discovered that my experience was very similar to each of my classmates. Most of us were quite immersed in Catholicism at various stages of our lives, beginning with a strong family experience, perhaps a Catholic grammar or high school experience, and then we spent five years in a Catholic seminary. Holy, friendly surroundings form a bit of an insulation from outside adversaries. A grace filled environment also provides a bit of a shield from the attacks of Satan and his dominions. At Mundelein Seminary, for example, we had an order of holy nuns whose sole apostolate was to pray for us seminarians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They spent those hours in perpetual adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. It pro-vided a shield that Satan could not pierce.<br \/>Entering parish ministry meant going out into the world, into the wilderness. Parishion-ers are quite diverse in their level of faith, from the very devout and pious to the unbeliever who is only there because of spouse or family. The parish exists within a secular culture of indifference and hostility. The Body of Christ is open and vulnerable. The doors are open wide for all to enter or pass by. Satan and his forces are working 24\/7 to infiltrate, attack, divide, harass, oppose, discourage, and destroy. To a man each of my classmates joined me in expressing a feeling of \u201cbattle fatigue.\u201d<br \/>Each of us felt that we were on the front lines of intense and unrelenting spiritual warfare. The Church, the office of the priesthood, marriages, family life, life itself is under attack. I shared with the group that when I engaged the enemy with intentionality, I soon realized that I had a great leviathan by the tail, and I could not let go. There was collateral damage as I was being tossed around and often consumed with the struggle. As I focused on the enemy I took my eyes off Christ.<br \/>Then as I was being pulled under, I reached out my hand and Jesus was there to pull me out of the raging sea. I found myself standing on the Rock that is Christ. The experience of the battle, the woundedness, the rejection, the vitriol hatred, enveloped me into the pierced heart of Jesus. At that moment I could say with St. Paul, \u201cIt is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.\u201d I am now aware that the Passion of Christ is an ongoing ever-present reality. Each of us must die with Him to live with Him.<br \/>The Good News is that we know how this ends. The battle, the victory has already been won. The Cross is barren, and the tomb is empty. Msgr. Canary reminded us to persevere, to stay the course. He pointed out to us how the battle has drawn us all closer to Christ and to His Church. He reminded us that only in sharing in Christ\u2019s passion can we be authentic priests. We left, wounds healed, and filled with gratitude!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f44b3c8 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f44b3c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Printable Version<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15ae42a elementor-align-left elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"15ae42a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div 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Reflections<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4f3155 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e4f3155\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-22b3a45 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"93370\" data-id=\"22b3a45\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" 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data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;show_arrows&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;space_between&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-main-swiper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Slides\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI first encountered Fr. Glenn\u2019s preaching on Ash Wednesday, 2006.\u00a0 It only took one homily, and my family and I realized that Fr. Glenn has a very special gift.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn is clearly very spiritual, and that comes through in all of his homilies and reflections.\u00a0 His spirituality is not aloof, or inaccessible.\u00a0 His holiness is authentic, grounded, accessible and on fire.\u00a0 And, that fire is shared, such that the listener also becomes on fire, and inspired to go deeper with Scripture, with God and with our neighbor.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn has inspired me to engage at the deepest level and to work to find my spiritual path, always encouraging, mentoring, coaching.\u00a0 I would strongly encourage anyone who can to attend one of his Masses, homilies, or podcasts.\u00a0 Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit working through Fr. Glenn!!!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"John J Hern Jr.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">John J Hern Jr.<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFr. Glenn has many charisms, which he displays by his compassion, theological intelligence, spirituality, and love of God.  His compassion is continually displayed when he visits the sick of the parish. His manner of prayer and conversation is definitively a gift from God.  His spirituality is very evident when he preaches. His homilies are instructive, encouraging and centered on God\u2019s infinite love for each of us. Fr. Glenn is a teacher, a mentor, and a wonderful listener who encourages those around him to follow Jesus more closely. He is Spirit filled, Spirit led and Spirit giving!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"Deacon Scott &amp; Claudia Jamieson\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">Deacon Scott & Claudia Jamieson<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time &#8211; Year B Reading I Ezekiel 2:2-5As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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