The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (8th July  2018)

Ezekiel 2:2-5; Psalm 123:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6

 Theme: There is a prophet among them.

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The account on the rejection of Jesus is quite extraordinary if compared to how the Lukan account depicted him, that, “Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.” [Lk 2:52] In the Markan account, Jesus did not have the esteem of his own people.  In fact, he was rejected “and they took offense at him.” [Mk 6:3]  They could not see beyond his family line and him being a carpenter.  He was too familiar.  This is only in reference to the people of his hometown.  But, there is also a difficult verse in Mark 3:21.  Exploring different translations, we find that there is an obvious translation problem.   Who were saying the remark that Jesus was out of his mind, his family and relatives or the people?  Mark has indeed effectively conveyed in his storytelling the rejection of Jesus by his contemporaries which creates the creative tension of provoking the reader/listener of the Gospel to make a stand and clarify his/her own beliefs about this person called Jesus Christ.

 

Prophets who heal and who raise the dead is not unique to Jesus alone.  Elijah and Elisha have performed such miracles.  Elijah raised the widow’s son. [1Kings 17:17-24]  Naaman, the army commander, was healed of leprosy through Elisha. [2 Kings 5:1-19]  What was different in Jesus is probably the way the divine activity is associated with him.  We can contrast this to the healing of the lame beggar through Peter’s intervention and his correction of the people’s perception that he healed the man through his own power. He, then, used the occasion to proclaim Jesus to them.[Acts 3:12-13]

 

Regardless of the source of the divine power, are we not supposed to rejoice that good is being done in the world?  However, that prophets are rejected continues to ring true even in our contemporary times.  Most often, those who tell the truth and do good works in our midst are persecuted and some are even killed.  I want to remember, in particular, a courageous religious sister in the Philippines whose advocacy for human rights got her into very serious trouble.  That she is committed to being a disciple of Jesus and following the social teachings of the Church is good enough reason for her to withstand persecution. And also remember the priest who recently got killed inside the Church he is serving.  These people were quite ordinary, perhaps, not even widely known in the society, but making a difference in their own “hometowns.”  Indeed, “There is a prophet among them.” [Ezekiel 2:5]

 

Commenting on this Sunday’s Gospel, Bock remarks, “[t]he rejection of such clear divine activity is amazing and tragic to Mark.  Even those acting faithfully meet rejection, as Jesus’ example shows.  This is a key theme of Mark.  You can be faithful and yet be rejected by many who will not see the good you represent.” [Bock, 203] The crunch is if we are indeed willing to be “a prophet among them” and face similar rejection.

 

For Reflection and Discussion: [1]  Have you had an occasion in the past when you did not speak up for truth and justice?  [2]  In what ways are you being invited to be a prophet today?

 

Bibliography:  Bock, Mark (Cambridge, 2015)

 

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This week’s teaching commentary was prepared by

Sr. Petite Lao, RNDM, Toronto, Canada,

Bat Kol alum 2010, 2014

petitelao@gmail.com

 [Copyright © 2018]

 

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PLEASE NOTE: The weekly Gospel commentaries represent the research and creative thought of their authors, and are meant to stimulate deeper thinking about the meaning of the Sunday Scriptures. While they draw upon the study methods and sources employed by the Bat Kol Institute, the views and conclusions expressed in these commentaries are solely those of their authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Bat Kol.  Questions, comments and feedback are always welcome.

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Bat Kol Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem

1983-2018

“Christians Studying the Bible within its Jewish milieu, using Jewish Sources.”

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