Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, July 8, 2012 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Ezekiel 2:2-5

Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4

R: Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

1 To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven — 2as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters. (R) 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. (R) 3 Have pity on us, O Lord, have pity on us, for we are more than sated with contempt; 4 our souls are more than sated with the mockery of the arrogant, with the contempt of the proud. (R)

2^nd READING - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

Mark 6:1-6

1 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 3 Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and John and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 5 So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

SABBATH

THE FAMILY OF FAITH

Do people easily “box” you in a certain category? They always see you as this type of person. For them, you will never change. It happens to all of us, one way or another. And it is usually heightened when we go through a conversion. Things in our life change but relationships tend to remain the same. Often those closest to us, such as our family members, from whom we expect love and support, are the very ones who misunderstand us. This is what Jesus encountered on one of His homecoming visits.

You would think that His town-mates would welcome Jesus with open arms and hearts as He comes back to His own town. Yet people are quick to put Him in a box as “the son of Mary, the carpenter.” He is more than meets the eye. The people are obviously amazed. How can a carpenter speak such words of wisdom? How is He able to perform such marvelous deeds? Consequently, no miracle was done in their place.

We are informed that Jesus’ “brothers and sisters” are with Him. These terms in that particular culture refer to cousins, nephews and other extended family members. In some countries, a similar language is used even if they are closely related as a brother or sister as we use the terms today. Many people use this passage to prove that Mary and Joseph had other children. This is not the case. Mary is the ever virgin mother of Jesus while Joseph is His foster father, according to God’s design.

We need to understand members of our family who may not have experienced the conversion in faith that we have. In the beginning they may look at us as if we are strangers. But don’t worry. The psalm helps us in this regard — to fix our eyes on the Lord and His mercy. He is our help and refuge in the storms that pass our life. Let us pray for the members of our family, especially those most remote from the Lord. He always listens to our prayers.Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you experience being “boxed” in a certain category? How do you feel? What can you do to get out of that “box”?

Thank You, Lord, for drawing me into Your family of faith. Amen.

St. Gregory Grassi and Companions, pray for us.

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