Prophet without honor
Fourteenth Sunday - Year B
Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6
A prophet preaches the Word of God. "Thus says the Lord God" usually begins their proclamation. The Scripture knows the true and the false prophets. It is easy to distinguish between them. Those who preach the truths that we do not like, that we do not want to accept, are true prophets. On the other hand, those who preach what we usually want to hear and strengthen in us a spirit of disobedience are false prophets.
A prophet is a very unpopular person because they spoil all the fun. While the world defines its standards of good and evil, they insist that moral truths come from God, and our task is to discover, accept and live according to them. Unfortunately, the world and many Christians as well, like the rebellious Israelites, who are "hard of face and obstinate of heart," do not listen (Ezek. 2:5).
A prophet is an unhappy person, torn between the love of God and the love for his people. On the one hand, they suffer when they see how God, the Creator, and Savior of the world and humankind, is treated by his people. Not only are God's commandments being rejected, but the very existence of God is being denied. On the other hand, they also feel pain in their hearts knowing the punishment that is going to befall their people for refusing to convert.
A prophet is a suffering person. Rejected by their people, they cry in loneliness. Sleepless nights are filled with questions and doubts. They feel weak and abandoned. The people choose better orators and an angel of Satan reminds them of their sinful past. for example, the stoning of Saint Stephen, and the persecution of Christians, in the case of Saint Paul. They are discouraged and feel sorry for themselves. But then, the Lord comes to comfort and empower them: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). Then suddenly they realize the paradox of grace: “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his kin and in his own place" (Mark 6:4). This sentence captures the message of today's liturgy of the Word. God announces to Ezekiel that he will meet resistance. The Church in Corinth founded by Saint Paul preferred the so-called "super-apostles" to their founder. Finally, the residents of Jesus’ native place were not able to accept the fact that the one who lived among them as a carpenter turned out to be someone greater: "What kind of wisdom has been given to Him? What mighty deeds are wrought by His hands?” (Mark 6:2).
In the face of the Word of God, we must ask ourselves some questions. Have we become obstinate people as well? Do we look for preachers who reflect our own opinions on faith and morals? Do we amaze our Lord Jesus with our lack of faith? The prophets of all times pray: "Have pity on us, O Lord, 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" (Ps. 123:3-4). Let us not be counted among those arrogant and proud people who, instead of repenting, mock and treat with contempt our contemporary prophets.