"My Grace is Sufficient for You"
(2 Corinthians 12: 9)
 
The words of the Lord to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you" are taken from the Second Letter to the Corinthians. They have been always served me as a source of consolation. It is God himself who is present in our poor and sometimes fragmented lives. However, the context of today's readings we must look for in the experience of faith that we live week by week in our parish community. Similar to this experience, perhaps it was Jesus' countrymen until he surprised them with his preaching and presence. I hope that in our daily experiences we let ourselves be touched by Jesus who comes to our lives and manifests himself in an unexpected and ordinary way.
 
Both Jesus and the prophet Ezekiel felt rejection of their preaching in today's readings. Jesus is rejected by the simple fact of having been raised in their midst. His countrymen CAN NOT accept someone who looks so much like them to teach them about the things of God. Ezekiel did not have it easy since he had to preach to a people who had rebelled against God to the point of being considered by the prophet as "obstinate of heart." Perhaps more consoling is the experience of Paul who recognizes that the grace of God is enough for each one of us in order to overcome our human weaknesses. Let us ask the Lord to have the humility to know how to accept the other who seems to be similar to us. The role of the true prophet is to speak on behalf of God. Ezekiel did it in times of difficulty and despite the multiple criticisms of his contemporaries continued to prophesy until the end of his life. Human frailty leads to the rejection of things and people who speak in the name of the Lord because they are unable to fulfill God's expectations for our lives.
 
In the Gospel of Mark, faith is the prerequisite for obtaining healing. Jesus does not cure so that people have faith but heals those whose faith is powerful (strong). "Your faith has saved you" are the words of consolation for the sick woman for 12 years whose story we heard last week. However, in today's Gospel, Jesus does not cure any of his countrymen because their lack of faith (Mark 6: 5-6). Our faith is what enables each one of us to be open to the grace of God willing to work in those who are open themselves to it.
 
Pope Francis invites us to open ourselves to Jesus who comes and wants to meet us in the ordinary of everyday life; this is in the poor, in the sick, in the neighbor or in the priest of our parish. Pope Francis also tells us that God speaks to us in our brothers and sisters we meet every day and in them and through them Christ wants to touch our lives. Let us ask for the grace of knowing how to receive Jesus every day in our lives and to recognize Him in our neighbor without leaving room for any type of rejection.
 
Fr. Hernán, SJ.