I heard the One who was speaking say to me… to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD. And whether they hear or resist… (Ezekiel 2:2-5).

4 July 2021. 14th Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle B-2021. Ezekiel 2:2-5 + 2Corinthians 12:7-10 + Mark 6:1-6

I am a sinner, LORD, just like anybody else. They know me from childhood that I had engaged in shameful shenanigans and scandalous escapades.

Although I worked harder and lived more faithfully towards my later years, I confess, it was not so in my earlier years. My past was tainted, so I plead guilty.

The Word of God convicted me, so I cried, I repented, and I sought forgiveness. To my embarrassment, the LORD sentenced me to share His Word with everyone.

I tried to recuse myself, saying, “Who am I to judge?” I tried to excuse myself, saying, “I am no more righteous than anyone!” I tried to walk away like the prophet Jonah walked away from his Nineveh mission.

“Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated” (2Corinthians 12:7).

Sharing the Word of God was like a fishbone the Lord stuck into my throat. It pricked me whenever I talked about the Word (cf. 2Tm 4:2, 5).

My past was tainted; even so I taught.
My post was taunted; unfit to my thought.
The Word I tooted; I said what I was told.

I spoke reluctantly for the LORD. I dared not speak in His Name, but the Word was like fire building up in my heart. I grew weary holding it back. I could withstand more the brickbats thrown against a sinner who dared to witness. I was tainted, and would be taunted for it; but, I rather obey the LORD’s command to witness (cf. Jeremiah 20:7-9).

Jesus did not condemn judging itself, but condemned judging in hypocrisy. “You, hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). Saint Paul taught likewise (cf. Romans 2:1-3; 17-24). VSS

Picture credit: Taunted, by shutterstock.com.