REFLECTION FOR FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (B)

REFLECTION FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY

 IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR (B) – January 28, 2018

REV. PIUSRALH EFFIONG, SMMM   piusralphe@gmail.com +2348 0668 90324

Today’s Reading:

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2.6-7abc. 7d-9 (R. 7d.8a)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Accl. Matthew 4:16
Gospel: Mark 1:21b-28

Theme: Jesus: The Promised Prophet and Messiah

In the first reading, God made a promise to the Israelites that after Moses he will raise up another prophet among them, who will be like Moses. This solemn promise left the Israelites with great joy and hope that God will not leave them to be deceived by false prophets (cf. Deut. 18:14). In the course of time, there were many prophets who came after Moses, but none was compared to Jesus. God in the first place knew that amidst this, there will be false prophets. He assured His people that He will not abandon them to their whims and caprices. Indeed, He kept to His solemn promise.

This promise made itself manifest in today’s gospel pericope from Mark 1:21b-28. Here Mark recounted the dramatic event which took place in the Synagogue, where Christ spoke with inner authority as not only a prophet but also a Messiah, which no one can escape its impact, even the unseen evil spirit (cf. Mark 1:24). On this fateful day, Christ surprised all with His distinctive teaching to the bewilderment of many worshipers. This therefore invoked a question among them: “What is this? A new teaching!”. No doubt their minds went back to the promise made by God that he will raise up a prophet like Moses from among them (cf. Deut. 18:15). 

Interestingly, apart from Matthew who often presents Jesus as the “new Moses”, Mark in today’s episode also presented Jesus in the same line. Yes! There is no doubt about this, for Jesus remains the true prophet and Messiah promised. To buttress this point, we have seen that when Christ went into the Synagogue He had no business with the evil spirit, but the spirit acknowledged His presence and he began to speak: “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” (Mark 1:24). The evil spirit further acknowledged Christ’s supreme power and authority and exclaimed: “I know who you are: You are the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1:24).  On saying this, Jesus rebuked him and said: “Be silent and come out of this man!” (Mark 1: 25), and immediately story changes with the coming out of this evil spirit.

            Today, we are being reminded that those who do not want God in their lives, situations, businesses, etc. often creates space for the evil spirit. They easily get distracted with ephemeral things losing sight of something beyond this mortal life. The same reminder St. Paul presents before us in the second reading from his first epistle to the Corinthian Church (I Corinthians 7:32-35) - the deposit of our vocation and interest. Is it in the things of God, or what appeals to us most?  This is a sure reminder to us, to be conscious of who we are, whether married or unmarried our attention should always gear towards God and His things, else we give the devil chance to hunt us as the man in the first reading. Therefore, no matter the situation we find ourselves, let us not allow anything to becloud our senses to pursue the shadow and leave the reality. Let us all fix our eyes on Christ today who speaks with authority to our problems and difficulties. All that He needs is our acknowledgement of His supreme power, readiness to allow Him into our situations and faith that He will do it, even more than what we asked; for He knows us truly and truly. O! that today you would listen to His voice!! Harden not your hearts!!! Peace be with you!

REFLECTION FOR THE THIRD SUNDA IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

REFLECTION FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY

 IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR (B) – January 21, 2018

PIUSRALH EFFIONG, SMMM              piusralphe@gmail.com        +2348 0668 90324

Today’s Reading:

1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-5.10
Responsorial: Psalm 25:4-5ab.6.7bc.8-9 (R.4a)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Accl. Matt. 1:15

Gospel: Matt. 1:14-20

Theme: Responding to God’s Call for Repentance

Today’s liturgy of the word puts across to each and every one of us a call for repentance. The gospel pericope according to Mark brings to our consciousness the need to be ready to give a prompt response to God’s invitation to change for better, without giving excuse(s), with love and open heart. We are told of how Christ invited Simon and Andrew, and put to them saying: “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. This of course is what the Lord has required of us, a prompt response without delay. In the first reading, we see similar drama taken place among the Ninevites, when God sent Jonah to go and announce to them the message of destruction if they still remain obstinate in sin.  Jonah responded to this command, and went into this great city known for all sorts of iniquities and delivered the message. The Ninevites immediately responded to this call for repentance through fasting, and putting on of sackcloth, and behold, the Lord kept to His promise and grant them pardon. While the second reading underscores the fact that we have little or no time with us, as the time is very near. Therefore, we need to buckle up by being conscious of the fact that each day we are getting closer to our end. Then the right time to say: “Yes, I do” to God is now. And this response is to be characterized with being faithful to God’s commands in our thoughts, words and actions. Finally, let us join the Psalmist in today’s psalm praying: “O Lord, make me know your ways.” PEACE BE WITH YOU!

REFLECTION FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (]YEAR B) with PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

REFLECTION FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY

 IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR (B) – January 14, 2018

PIUSRALH EFFIONG, SMMM              piusralphe@gmail.com        +2348 0668 90324

Today’s Reading:

1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
Responsorial: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-103
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
Gospel: John 1:35-42

Theme: RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL

In today’s liturgy of the word, we are being invited by the Holy Mother Church to reflect on various ways in which God has called us. The three readings revolve around invitation to sacred duties. The call to vocation, profession and all spheres of life. The first reading presents before us three points: first, it is good to persevere. We can see this perseverance in the life of Samuel, he occasionally missed God’s voice as well but keeps on listening, Secondly, “patient” God was very patient with Samuel, even when he didn’t catch on immediately. The Lord is patient with us too. He keeps sending messages our way, even though he knows we will likely miss some of them amidst the challenges and trials of this life. The last point may sound funny. You and I may probably be hearing from the Lord already, but not realizing or recognizing the voice yet. It is this same call that God made to us through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Church in Corinth reminding us of the beauty of creation, and the price Christ paid to redeem us from the shackle of sin and total damnation. Stressing that we are the temple where God dwells and as such we need to live not as pagans but true disciples of Christ.

These points serve as a compass to the gospel pericope which forms part of the call to discipleship by Jesus. The dramatic episode of the today’s gospel reading underscores importance or readiness in responding to God’s call. Jesus posed the subtle question to his would-be disciples “What do you want?” – his very first words in the Gospel of John. And they answered, “Rabbi, where do you live?” The story continues to its climax with Andrew meeting his brother Simon and told him that they had seen the long awaited Messiah. This same question is what Christ often ask us each time we converse with him “What do we want?” In certainty, we will all respond: we want comfort, peace, wealth and so on, except few (if any) will request for true discipleship. The response of Samuel in the first reading “speak, Lord, your servant is listening” should be our watch word in our daily living. Docility and attentiveness are required of us. Though we are confronted with some noisy challenges generated by media, auto-mobiles, individuals and even ourselves. Amidst this, we need a bit of solitude in our lives so as to create a conducive environment for God to speak to us. 

Finally, let us be reminded that God doesn’t’ usually speak to us with an audible voice. Rather, he often chooses natural means, including people around us, our consciences, and our imaginations. Sometimes our thoughts and feelings. No matter what you experience, be still and know that He is God. PEACE BE WITH YOU!