For me though, the Readings which stand out are the Psalm and the Second Reading from St. Paul. The psalm expresses complete reliance upon God. St. Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians expresses a similar theme. Paul, probably the greatest Christian missionary in the history of the Church, knew something about\u00a0strength and weakness. He knew that, in his weakness, God’s strength was more greatly manifested.<\/p>\n
As we prepare ourselves to receive the Eucharist this week, let us come mindful of our weaknesses and therefore also recognize our need of God, thankful that He calls poor, imperfect creatures to be His children and to declare His goodness.<\/p>\n
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Reading I: Ezekiel 2:2-5<\/h3>\n
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: <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 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–for they are a rebellious house – they shall know that a prophet has been among them.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Questions:<\/p>\n Commentary:<\/p>\n As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet,\u00a0and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: …<\/em><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n In the verses\u00a0preceding\u00a0this passage, Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord and falls face down. The Spirit enters him and draws him to his feet, strengthening him for his vocation.<\/p>\n In our psalm (and Second Reading) we will recognize our utter dependence upon God. In order for Ezekiel to fulfill his mission, he will need divine aid.<\/p>\n …Son of man, …<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The phrase “Son of man”<\/span><\/em> is used 93 times in Ezekiel. It doesn’t have a Messianic connotation here as it does in the Book of the Prophet Daniel. Here in Ezekiel, it is a term which contrasts the humble nature of Ezekiel to the\u00a0transcendent\u00a0and everlasting God.<\/p>\n …I am sending you to the Israelites, …<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n God is sending Ezekiel to the descendants of Jacob, those in captivity with him in Babylon.<\/p>\n …rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n God describes His people as “rebels”<\/span><\/em> since they have rebelled against God, His\u00a0covenant\u00a0and His commandments. This is not a recent development. God says that “their ancestors”<\/em><\/span> rebelled, as do the people “to this very day”<\/span><\/em>. A feature of Ezekiel’s preaching concerns how Israel has consistently rejected God throughout there history.<\/p>\n Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The people are stubborn, but God is sending Ezekiel anyway.<\/p>\n But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD! And whether they heed or resist–for they are a rebellious house – they shall know that a prophet has been among them.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n This is the message Ezekiel is to proclaim.\u00a0Whether the people listen to him, this is what Ezekiel must do.\u00a0It is noteworthy that many who met Jesus resisted His message too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Psalm 123 is a humble prayer to God for mercy and a declaration of complete dependence upon God. This theme will come up again in our Second Reading from St. Paul.<\/p>\n R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven – As the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Questions:<\/p>\n Commentary:<\/p>\n R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Lord’s people are attentive to Him and acknowledge that they are utterly\u00a0dependent\u00a0upon Him.<\/p>\n To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven – As the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This psalm uses the simile of faithful servants who attend to their master.<\/p>\n 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.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This is a repetition of the servant simile.<\/p>\n 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.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The word “sated”<\/span><\/em> means to have had enough, a full measure. The psalmist is saying that they have been enduring all the contempt and mockery of the “arrogant”<\/span> and “proud”<\/span>, those who trust in themselves<\/span> rather than in God<\/span>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our Second Reading today is probably my favourite passage in all of the Pauline corpus.<\/p>\n One of the reasons Paul wrote this letter to the Church at Corinth was to respond to his critics. His critics were the Judaizers who asserted that in order to be a Christian, one must keep all the Law of Moses.\u00a0In the verses leading up to today’s passage, Paul has been recounting breathtaking supernatural ecstasies, experiences which he immediately contrasts…<\/p>\n 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, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 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,<\/em>\u00a0hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Questions:<\/p>\n Commentary:<\/p>\n Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, …<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n In the earlier verses, Paul spoke about being “caught up to the third heaven…paradise”<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n …a thorn in the flesh was given to me, …<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n There has been much speculation by theologians as to what this “thorn”<\/span><\/em> may have been (there is also a very long thread on this subject at the Catholic Answers Forum<\/a>). Some kind of psychological issue? Some kind of spiritual issue?\u00a0Was some kind of sickness? Some physical disability? We know that Paul had troublesome eyesight. Could it have been that?<\/p>\n As you know, it was because of an illness<\/span> that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness<\/span> was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if it were Christ Jesus himself. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me<\/span>… See what large letters<\/span> I use as I write to you with my own hand!<\/em> – Galatians 4:13-15; 6:11<\/span><\/p>\n Could it have been some personal opposition (possibly by Judaizers)? Here is an example of the thorn metaphor being used in such a way:<\/p>\n But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides<\/span><\/em> – Numbers 33:55<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s a quick breakdown of what various Christians have thought:<\/p>\n Physical illness:<\/strong>\u00a0Anselm, Bede, Sedulius, Jerome, Thomas Regardless, whatever the “thorn”<\/span><\/em> was, it was causing Paul problem.<\/p>\n I’m actually rather pleased that we don’t know for certain the nature of the “thorn”<\/em><\/span> since it means that every future Christian can read this text and apply it to his or her own “thorn”<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n …an angel of Satan, to beat me, …<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n This sounds very much like the opening chapters to Job:<\/p>\n The Lord said to Satan, “very well, then, he is in your hands<\/span>; …so Satan<\/span> went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job<\/span>…”<\/em> – Job 2:6-7<\/span><\/p>\n We will hear from Paul that this thorn turns out to be something of a blessing. Here is St. Augustine commenting upon this phenomenon of God using the devil:<\/p>\n Some ask if the devil is good because he is useful. We respond that he is only evil<\/span>, but God who is good and almighty<\/span> draws from the devil’s\u00a0malice<\/span>\u00a0many just and good things<\/span>. The devil possesses a will that is bent on evil<\/span>, not the Providence of God<\/span> that brings good from him<\/span><\/em> – St. Augustine, Against the Manichaeans 2, 28, 42<\/span><\/p>\n …to keep me from being too elated.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n To ensure that Paul would not become full of pride because of his supernatural experiences the\u00a0“thorn in the flesh”<\/em><\/span>\u00a0was given to him to humble him.<\/p>\n Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, …<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Paul prays for the “thorn”<\/span><\/em> to be taken away. The number three is the number symbolic of completion – this should have done the trick…<\/p>\n …but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n …but Paul’s prayer was denied.<\/p>\n [Job’s] wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble<\/span>?”<\/em>\u00a0– Job 3:9-10<\/span><\/p>\n Rather than taking the “thorn”<\/em><\/span> away, God gives Paul a message, much like the Prophet Ezekiel. Rather than healing, grace is given, demonstrating that God gives us what we\u00a0need<\/span> rather than what we tell Him we want<\/span>.\u00a0God says that he will use this thorn for His good purpose:<\/p>\n And For And we know that\u00a0in all things God works for the good of those who love him<\/span>, who have been called according to his purpose<\/em>\u00a0– Romans 8:28<\/span><\/p>\n Since the thorn is not removed, Paul is utterly dependent upon grace and strength given by God:<\/p>\n I can do everything through him who gives me strength<\/span><\/em>\u00a0– Philippians 4:13<\/span><\/p>\n This theme of dependence is found in this week’s psalm.<\/p>\n I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.\u00a0Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,<\/em>\u00a0hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.<\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/ezekiel1.jpg\")
<\/a>Our First Reading comes from a prophet we’ve heard quite a bit from recently<\/a>, the Prophet Ezekiel, a prophet during the Babylonian exile. In the following extract we hear about Ezekiel’s initial call by God to be a prophet.<\/p>\n\n
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4<\/h3>\n
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Reading II: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10<\/h3>\n
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\nPersecutions from adversaries:<\/strong> Chrysostom, Theophylact, Theodoret, Oecumenius, Ambrose, Erasmus<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/2-corinthians-12.jpg\")
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Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Jesus-as-a-boy-in-the-temple.jpg\")
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