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!