I have to say that I really like the 2nd Reading today. Especially the sentence “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.
It reminds me to do little things with great love. Like St. Therese the Little Flower, her Little Way was what brought her to the heights of Sainthood! Of course on the other end it was God speaking and working through the Saints who did great things, that they did what they did. Such as St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. John Paul the Great! Just to name 4 of my favorites. They all had great faith in what the Lord could do and they asked with faith! This leads us to the Gospel where Jesus could not work many miracles due to the peoples lack of faith. Jesus does not force His gifts on us He wants us to ask and be willing to accept them!
When people are broken due to abuse/neglect, it can be a struggle for them to have faith. They look at God with doubt and distrust. It takes time for them to little by little let His seed of faith grow in them! Some reach for God more readily when they start to heal. While they can have great melt downs, their faith is great!
Here are the Readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time:
Reading 1EZ 2:2-5
and set me on my feet,
and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:
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.
Reading 22 COR 12:7-10
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, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
GospelMK 6:1-6
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
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!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.