It is 8 July 2018. We celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings are from Ezekiel 2:2-5; the second reading is from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; and the Gospel from Mark 6:1-6. There is a rebel, an enemy and a sin within each one of us as there is a prophet in each one of us. The rebel and the enemy within is so subtle, hidden and oblique, we tend to ignore and begin to fight the related shadows and resemblance in others. However best one could be, he or she will not be appreciated by the people whom he or she is so familiar with. We need to stand our grounds when people are still destroying the very base we stand and work. The rejection, rebellion, retaliation are the unfair response and treatment we get for having been honest, hard working and speaking and standing for the truth. God may not alter our sufferings and the situations of rejection. When we have mastered fighting and dealing with the enemy and the rebel and that ‘thorn in the flesh,’ we are not that much affected emotionally and spiritually as people refuse to acknowledge the goodness that we show. People choose not to appreciate your good works and words of consolations and correction yet we need to continue to do the will of God. Our worth is shining right within and become resilient while people engage in refuting and rejecting every tiny move we make. The pain within can be healed by one’s own personal conversion and the constant focus on God through our faith. If we are not rejected, ignored and humiliated yet, it means we have not done anything substantially and all that we have done and spoken are the things that pleased the people not God. The first reading teaches us that there is a prophet for God’s people even if they are not interested in listening to the prophet. The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.” (Ps.123:2). The second readings strengthens each one of us teaching that it is through Grace of God that we live and continue to believe God. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9,10). The Gospel encourages us to go to people other than our own. Let us not spend all our time looking at the thorny bushes and sinful conditions within our communities and families we come from and being rejected by our own rather let us embark the journey of love, peace and reconciliation and offering hope even if people do not accept and reject our message of love as relevant. Whether we are appreciated or not, let us do our part healing the world around by healing ourselves. Somewhat we are all wounded persons need a tremendous grace to be healed. However, rejected one could be by the family, the community and nation, we are not a reject in the eyes of God and therefore, we still can churn and shake the core for the welfare of the humanity. May God bless you to be God’s child and a witness by our presence and living. May you have a good day.

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