Being an ordained deacon does not provide me with a leg up, so to speak. I am challenged daily as everyone else who espouses Christianity as the faith of their choice. My temptations are no less and my struggle with giving in to sin is a difficult choice at times, depending on the decision I am given to make. The difference for me is remembering the pain when in the past I have given in and the disappointment I am to God for not living up to my promise to be faithful no matter what the cost.
My strength comes from the same place St. Paul writes about in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 12, Verse 9, in which he quotes Jesus: “My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection.” The “grace” which Jesus mentions is the relationship we have with God based on living up to the promise of having faith. It is this faith journey which provides us a path to salvation and the strength to fight off whatever is thrown our way that causes doubt and denies us trust.
Each of us is challenged in our own way as to how we can overcome what we believe to be disappointments that cause us problems in walking with God. Our perception of life usually offers a scenario that illustrates we have control and the outcome will be in our favor. And, yet, I have presided at numerous funeral vigils, Masses and committals in which relatives and friends of the deceased are confused, angry or depressed about the end result. They don’t understand and often blame God for what happened, forgetting that death is not the end, but a new beginning with God forever at one’s side.
Jesus realized the hardship He would face when He said yes to His Father to become human and when in the Garden of Gethsemane He asked for His Father to remove the hardship, but conceded to His will be done. He knew He would be rejected by the Pharisees, Sadducees, high priests, scribes and elders. Even his own neighbors with whom He grew up lacked the faith necessary to believe His teachings and in the healing of those in need. And, yet, despite this, He continued to preach, teach and cure the sick as St. Mark’s Gospel indicates in Chapter 6, Verse 5: “He could work no miracle there apart from curing a few who were sick by laying hands on them.”
Each one of us by our Baptism is being called by God to be a prophet, a spokesperson for God. Whether that means we will face dissidents as did Ezekiel, those who have lost trust as did St. Paul or one’s own kin or neighbor who refused to accept Jesus because he was one of them. What is important is that we listen to God’s call, trust in His purpose for us and remember He is at our side during this time no matter what our state of mind, body or soul.
Whatever inadequacy we believe we have or weakness we feel about being God’s mouthpiece, we have Jesus standing by our side. We will not be abandoned, but fully supported because Jesus knows we are capable due to the gifts and talents with which we have been blessed. It is in these times of weakness that we find strength.
Reading 1: Ezekiel 2: 2-5
Reading 2: Second Corinthians 12: 7-10
Gospel: Mark 6: 1-6
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