There is much talk in the Catholic Press these days about the up-coming Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in Australia in 2020.  We are being reminded that it is an occasion for us to be renewed in our faith and to deepen our commitment to living out that faith.

We used to have a saying in the seminary, “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies those he called.” The first reading and the gospel for today tells us exactly that.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeFourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year B
Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 6:1-6.

For it is when I am weak that I am strong

St Paul in today’s second reading makes this extra ordinary statement which sounds a bit weird to the modern ear. When we look around in the advertising world, the communication media, in the regular telecasts, broadcast, etc., weakness is something ‘not good.’ We are constantly bombarded with the image of strength, ‘macho’ physic, ‘need for speed,’ muscle strength and the idea that all this is ‘cool’; St Paul does sound weird! How can he make such a statement? How can we say, ‘When I am weak that I am strong’? 

When we read the second reading, we come across the quote, “My power is at its best in weakness.” Lord’s power works best, when we are weak. That is something to ponder over. 

When do I feel I am weak? The Gospel of today may be able to help us understand this a bit more. Jesus is in his hometown and he goes and teaches in the synagogue on a Sabbath day. It seems the townsfolk know Jesus through and through! Their remarks are amazing! How this weakling, ‘son of carpenter,’ can preach like this? How is he performing these miracles? As the followers of Jesus, we know how he is doing all this. Jesus is filled with God’s power and, whatever may be the weakness people see in Jesus, God’s power is at its best in him. 

The first reading of today, from prophet Ezekiel, affirms this further. The Israelites have begun to believe in their own strength and have forsaken God. They have not recognised God’s prophet among them, for he is considered weak. But God strengthens the prophet by filling him with the Spirit and sending him to the Israelites. In his weakness, God has made him strong.

What about us? Have we ever felt weak against the rejection of the people? Have we been told that we need to be strong always and being weak is ‘not cool’? I feel is it the other way around; being weak is to depend on God’s strength. It is holding on to God’s spirit even when we feel rejected. It is forgiving even when we struggle to forget. It is walking that extra mile, even when we know we will not be appreciated. It is turning the other cheek even when we know we will be treated badly. And this ‘weakness’ is the ‘strength.’ This strength can only come from God. We see that in Jesus, in prophet Ezekiel, in St Paul, in Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Oscar Romero, Mary Mackillop and in countless others who were not ‘macho’ in the eyes of the world, but strong in the presence and with the help of God. 

Let us continue to remember that our strength is not just physical. Being strong in the understanding of media and communications is not everything there is. We need to experience the weakness, so we can depend on the power of God. God’s power is at its best in our weakness.

This morning’s powerful Gospel story of healing is meant to give hope and courage to each one of us, for in one way or another we are all wounded and in need of healing!

It is very unusual that a feast, other than a feast of Our Lord, would take the place of the Sunday liturgy. 

To borrow a joke from one of my favourite preachers Fr Bel San Luis, SVD, there was a young man who was praying to God. This was his prayer, “Lord, grant me the gift of patience … I want it NOW!!!”

Doing the will of God is the theme of this Sunday’s liturgy. Obedience tothe will of God was the mission of Jesus. He obeyed God all through his lifeand he invites us to do the same.

In just a couple of days, I will be celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the Sacrament of Priesthood.

Today we celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity.  It is a mystery that is part of our Catholic DNA, but we seldom reflect on it.

During my holiday in the Philippines a few years ago, I visited some of the Holy Spirit Sisters at their convent in Manila.

The mandate we are given today, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, is to ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the good news to all creation.’

For those we love, we wish the best for them. It’s true, isn’t it!

The Gospels show Jesus teaching the people of His time about His Father using parables, stories, and metaphors that they were very familiar with.

Whenever Jesus talks about sheep and shepherds I realise that I am listening to a “foreign language”.  I am a city boy, growing up in Chicago and attending a seminary in a near-by suburb.

When I was learning how to drive, my instructor insisted that before changing lanes or before entering the traffic, it was not enough to look at the side mirrors but also to turn my head to the back of my shoulder so that I could cover my “blind spot”.