Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
28th January 2024 (Sunday)
Psalter: Week 4
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Moses spoke to the people, saying, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’.
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7abc, 7d-9 (R. see 7d, 8a)
R/. O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Brethren: I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or virgin woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Mark 1:21b-28
[In the city of Capernaum] on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: An Authority that empowers and not overpowers!
Guidelines: When God’s power fills a person, he speaks and acts with an authority which no human authority can give, because it is a power that is from above and beyond the merely human
1. Jesus preaches the gospel and does miracles. Perhaps, there may be some others also who preach and perform miracles. But, the difference of Jesus is his tone of authority, unlike the Pharisees and scribes.
2. People are easily struck by this difference. But, what is this authority? Where does it come from? Jesus had no office or position, and thus no official or juridical power and authority. But he had a tremendous spiritual authority and a moral authority.
3. It is an authority that is rooted in his communion with the Father. In the words of the first reading from Deuteronomy, it is the authority that comes from those words which are directly put in his mouth by God Himself.
4. And in tune with the second reading from the 1 Corinthians, it is the authority that comes from being free from anxieties. It is the authority that comes from being anxious about the affairs of the Lord, and how to please the Lord.
5. It is the authority that springs from an undivided devotion to the Lord. This is the profound spiritual authority, rooted in God. It is also an authority that testifies itself in a sound character and conduct.
6. It is this authority that gives his teaching conviction and clarity, and gives his acting the power of healing. It is the power of God that is seen in holiness and goodness, in spirituality and integrity, in faith and charity, in devotion and dedication.
7. It is the power that challenges and expels evil powers. It is the power that directly appeals to the heart, stirs up the interior and transforms a person. It is the real integral authority that embraces in one stretch both God and humanity. Precisely it is this power and authority that was lacking in the Pharisees and scribes, but was abounding in Jesus. Hence the difference!
8. It is this spiritual and moral authority which is badly needed today for every follower of Christ. Sadly, often, power and authority corrupt persons, make them arrogant and lord over others and become doorsteps for unhealthy and unholy power politics.
9. Authority is used as a tool to woo or intimidate others, and also as a bait and magic rod to establish and propagate oneself, rather than God and His reign. Those in authority must make sure that their role is not a power-wielding tool, but a grace-building channel.
10. But, a follower of Christ should be a deeply spiritual and moral person. Spiritual and moral authority is much more important than mere juridical authority.
Practice: A person who clings to and exercises only legal authority, but is devoid of spiritual and moral authority will be nothing but shallow and less effective
