Often times when I am hanging out with fellow Christians, we end up talking about evangelizing others. People say things like, "I'm trying to bring my co-worker to Christ" or "my dad's a non-believer and I'm trying to convert him." On the surface it sounds great. Many believers feel so loved by God that they want to share this love with others. But here is the question: are we really being sincere in our desire to evangelize?
Not only do we need to question our sincerity, but we also need to learn how to go about "making disciples of all nations" as Matthew Chapter 28 says. That's what this week's readings are all about. God addresses an important Christian topic: evangelization. Let's begin with the 2nd reading. The other readings will come after the commentary.
Reading II (From July 5th Mass)
2 Cor 12:7-10
Brothers and sisters:
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.
Preaching to Difficult People
All 3 readings this week involve someone trying to evangelize amidst opposition. In the first reading, it's Ezekiel trying to evangelize the Israelites. In the Gospel, it's Jesus and the people of his native place (Nazareth). In this reading, it's Paul who is trying to evangelize. In all 3 readings, the "preachers" encounter difficulty, but it is the 2nd reading that talks about the difficulty in detail and teaches a critical lesson in Christianity.
Paul is suffering from a "thorn in the flesh". This Hebrew expression is similiar to "thorn in my side" and typically refers to a person.1 And so it is very likely that Paul is encountering difficulty because of some person. And it's not just a little bit of difficulty. Paul describes EXTREME difficulty. After all, his "three times" of begging that the "thorn" might leave him is similar to Jesus' thrice request that his Father let the "cup" of the passion pass Jesus by.
In modern language, I would say that Paul is suffering because of a difficult person. Jesus' reply to Paul's cry for help is "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Notice that Jesus does not take away the suffering that Paul is encountering. Paul's "weaknesses" are his "hardships" and his "constraints". And so, Jesus is essentially saying, "I will not take these difficulties from you Paul because it is these difficulties which will perfect you and it is through these difficulties that my "power" is revealed/given fully to you."
Our Difficulty Can Lead to Christ and Heaven
Just how does that work? Well, just like Jesus in Gethsamane, Paul persists in his mission despite extreme difficulty (an extremely difficult person in this case). His persistence shows not only that Paul is sincere, but his persistence and perserverance allow him to participate in a GIANT opportunity to imitate Christ.
Everywhere Christ went, there were annoying, difficult people, and often times these people wanted to kill him. His best friends (disciples) bailed out on him at his execution, and the respected rabbis hated him. Everywhere he went, he was mocked and tested. Jesus' motivation was to help people. His motivation was not to make himself feel good. But it is in these difficult moments that we can see the sincerity of Jesus' love. For instance, he prays for the people who had just pounded nails through his innocent hands, for example. Jesus did not let personal pain and threats (understatement) stop him from loving people.
And so Jesus knew that Paul's difficulty would perfect Paul and make him strong. That's why Jesus didn't take away Paul's difficulties.
Sincerity and Difficulty
Again, most Christians have a desire to evangelize.This week's readings test our sincerity. Will we only help easy-to-love people or will we seek to help the "thorns" in our lives? This week's readings also give us insight into what difficulty really is.
Through this week's readings we can see that Paul is just like any other person in that he encountered both difficulty and difficult people. Like most Christians, he had a hard time and asked God to take away his difficulty. But God knew that Paul's difficulty was not an obstacle, but rather a doorway and a means through which Paul's faith would be strengthened. Again, difficulties are not obstacles to life, they are the means through which we can experience eternal life (the kind of life that matters most) if we react the way Paul eventually did and the way that Jesus always did when he faced difficulty.
Paul was illuminated through this experience. Through this incident, Paul and we are shown the mind and the love of God. Acts of sincere love allow us to see people with the eyes of Christ, who views every difficult person not as an obstacle, but as a dignified person worth saving no matter how challenging it is. Once again, God opens our eyes because he loves us.
Where We Can Go From Here
Every Gospel is a call to action, not a call to nod our heads in agreement. So here's what we need to do:
* thank God in all things. Our trials, difficulties, annoyances, and sufferings are gifts to us
* we must seek to serve others no matter how difficult the circumstance or the people.
* we must pray more. The first reading (below) says that Ezekiel embarked on his evangelical mission AFTER he spoke to God. Paul came to understand one of the most important lessons of his life through a conversation with God. We must pray more. Praying 120 seconds every day (30 seconds for each meal and 30 seconds before bed) is not enough for us to stay in touch with God and his plan for our lives. We must talk to God constantly and at length!!!!
God loves us- a lot.
1-I learned this from the footnotes in the New American Bible
Reading 1
Ez 2:2-5
As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me
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.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 123:1-2, 2, 3-4
R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven —
As the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
As the eyes of a maid
are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
till he have pity on us.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,
for we are more than sated with contempt;
our souls are more than sated
with the mockery of the arrogant,
with the contempt of the proud.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Gospel
Mk 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.
click here for more commentary on suffering
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