RENEWsletter for July 5, 2009 - 14th Ordinary

Hello, Folks--
Summer is here in earnest, and depending on where on this planet you make your home, the weather can get pretty hot. Of course, none of this holds if you reside in the southern hemisphere. There you could be dealing with cold. No matter. The point is that when the weather gets severe -- triple digit temps, or minus double digits -- and a break in the pattern brings relief, we feel thankful. Mother Nature will occasionally be merciful.

And there's my segue into this coming Sunday's readings. :-)

We are ready for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time with a group of passages that at first glance appears to be kind of a miscellaneous hodgepodge. But within each of the readings there's a pointer to the abiding mercy of God. You'll find these readings on the web at: http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/070509.shtml, and in your Bible at:

Ezekiel 2.2-5
Psalm 123.1, 1-2, 2, 3-4
2 Corinthians 12.7-10
Mark 6.1-6

The First Reading relates the call of Ezekiel (Ez. 2.2). "Go to this obstinate people of mine and whether they heed or not, they'll at least know that a prophet has been sent to them" (v. 5). God in his mercy is sending yet another prophet to his rebellious children (v. 3). He does not wipe them out and start fresh... he perseveres and keeps knocking at the shut and barred door of their obstinate hearts (v. 4).

The Responsorial Psalm is a song of supplication, begging for respite from ridicule, surcease of suffering, mercy. We are looking to the LORD for mercy (Ps. 123.2). We are overcome with the way the arrogant and proud are treating us. We are tired of their insults, their contempt, their disdain (vs. 3, 4). We need the LORD's help (v. 3).

The Second Reading is the confession of Paul concerning his "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12.7). Paul has begged the Lord three times to remove the "thorn" (v. 8). We don't know what the thorn was, but we know why he was given it... God knew that a personality like Paul's would tend to make him a loose cannon if it weren't for that thorn nailing him down... anchoring him to the truth that "when I am weak, then I am strong" (v. 10). This is a different aspect of God's mercy: the strategic long-range variety. What at first glance may look like uncaring, insensitive neglect on the part of the Lord, turns out to be really the best for us in the long run. And it may even "hurt him worse than it does us!" But it teaches us that God's grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in weakness (v. 9).

The Gospel Reading shows God's mercy in yet another way. Even though it was a foregone conclusion that the people of Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up and apprenticed as a carpenter, would not be able to accept him as the prophet he was, yet still God sent him there (Mark 6.1). It was merciful in that even though the turnout was tiny, at least some few got healed (v. 5). Better than nothing! Beyond that it gives us something to remember when we get discouraged by the small return on our investment of faith... our time, talent, and treasure... even Jesus bombed at least once! It won't hurt if we do.

If there's one thing I've learned in my life, it is that God is gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy (Psalm 103:8). Let's look for a sign of his mercy this week. It could be a patient repetition of a lesson we haven't got yet. It could be a soul-felt plea for relief. It could be acknowledgement of the good side of an infirmity or persistent failing. Or it could be a feeling of contentment with a little bit. I think I can find examples of all four in my life! :-)

Grace, and peace, and mercy be with you all.

Randy Jones
"Those who say there is no mercy haven't been paying attention!"