Ez 2:2-5 2 Cor 12:7-10 Mk 6:1-6

We all have experience with those around us not following what we say. For parents it can be children who don’t listen and do things we tell them not to do. For children and teens it can be parents who don’t understand what they are going through. We are in good company on this as we hear in the Gospel today.

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.”

We can feel as if everything we say is either ignored or is moved on from without any attention. We think the people we are talking with have no interest in listening to us at all. That can be not following our suggestions or seemingly not interested in our problems.

We heard from the reading of Ezekiel today that the Israelites were like this with God. They disregarded everything he had done for them and went their own way. The interesting thing is he was preaching to people who had found out that God will not be with them in their fight since the Israelites were exiled into Babylon at this time. Ezekiel was trying to get the Israelites back to following God and not their own egos or alien gods. When this fail Judea was conquered by the Babylonians. Ezekeil did come back to them and continued to prophesy so that the Israelites would come back to God.

We are still called just like Ezekiel though to continue to show and talk about how God is calling us to act in the world. This is especially important in the world and our country today as we have seemingly lost our way.

Are we afraid to speak about the truths that Jesus taught because we may be ridiculed? Saint Paul reminds the Corinthians:

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.

While we may not be comfortable in addressing the current trends in society it is our calling to do so. This is a calling that needs to be started with our family and friends. While we may be talked about behind our back, laughed at for our belief or any other type of ridicule we should have the fortitude to continue talking about these things.

At some point in time those around us will begin to listen and engage in what we are saying, just as the Israelites eventually did. We just hope that this happens before our time in this life is done unlike Ezekiel who did not see the fruits of his labor.

We are also reminded that even Jesus, the Son of God, the Holy one born of the virgin was not believed by his own people until after his crucifixion, death and resurrection. While he may not have performed any miracle or given any great signs in his hometown, they did hear about all the miracles and signs that he did.

This story should give us the fortitude to persevere in our beliefs and convictions. Saint Paul certainly followed this example when he continued to preach the Good News even though he was imprisoned multiple times. While we may not have to go to prison for speaking what we believe, we still need that same fortitude today as those in opposition to us are certainly speaking louder and attempting to bully us into being silent.

This should be a sign to us that we are moving in the right direction. This direction which we are called to go into is for our salvation. Just as parents try to teach their children not to make the same mistakes they did and do this for the benefit of the child, Jesus reminds us that if we follow his teaching we will be safe from harm to our eternal soul.

Our salvation is what we are called to be working towards, Ezekiel started by warning the Judeans of their defeat if they did not change their ways and then when his prophesy came to pass he went with them to remind them that there was still time to reconcile and return to God and Jerusalem.

We have this same ability to help correct our own mistakes and make them right for our eternal soul. This can be done in multiple ways, the sacrament of reconciliation, continuing to live as an example of what it means to follow Christ, and other ways. This is also how we help those around us find Christ. Just as Saint Paul lived as an example for those around him so we are called to live.

By living like this we are not guaranteed that there will not be struggles, just look at the examples of Jesus and Saint Paul. Jesus was feared to the point that the pharisees chose to lie about him to have him crucified. The Romans were so afraid of Saint Paul that they eventually put him to death, after imprisoning him multiple times.

I hope and pray we do not have to suffer the same fate as Saint Paul, though we should try and behave in the same manner. We should be willing to accept ridicule for the way we lead our lives without judging others for the way they decide to live theirs. We will redeem our souls to allow us the possibility of heaven. Those around us who choose to ignore God, or even worse believe he does not exist will be left to deal with the consequences of their actions in this life. This is because the only true judge of our lives is God and we need to do our best to live our lives for God.

At the end of Mass today you will be dismissed with the words Go in peace glorifying the Lord with your life. This is the commission that the church and God is asking for you to live out in your lives. Leading a life that is centered around God, regardless of what those around you are doing. While we all know we are not perfect enough to do this at all times, we have ways to come back into conformity with Christ. The sacrament of Reconciliation forgives our sins and the Eucharist which we are about to partake of is there so we have Christ with us to strengthen our resolve in those times of doubt and trouble. Are we ready lead our life for God and not for ourselves,  so that we are not afraid of the consequences?