Sunday, January 28, 2024

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

(Deuteronomy 18:15-20; I Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28)

The Gospel according to Saint Mark is the shortest of the four canonical gospels. It's probably the least appreciated as well. But you can't say it's not dramatic. It draws us into the action as if it were an episode of Star Wars. The passage we read today is no exception.

To understand it we have to go back a little to last Sunday's gospel where Jesus says: “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”  You can bet on it. The Kingdom of God is essentially Jesus Himself, the Son of God. Now the kingdom is advancing like an army on the march. The forces of evil have to flee. God is reclaiming human hearts, the territory that was ceded to Satan and his demons.

In the gospel reading today we see a confrontation between Jesus and the enemy. The devil occupies the soul of a man. Perhaps the man is a lunatic, but the gospel does not say how the possession manifests itself. It doesn't matter. The presence of Jesus, charged with the Holy Spirit given to him at his Baptism, threatens the demon from head to toe.

The demon cannot resist him. He has to get out of the captive like a soldier whose trench has been ignited by a flamethrower.  The demon tries to challenge Jesus by revealing his identity, “the Holy One of God.” But the Lord silences him before the people realize what he is saying. In the statement the demon refers to himself with the plural “we.” He is speaking on behalf of all the demons whose domination of the world is being upended.

Jesus' action to silence the demon may cause us to ask, “Why? Isn't it good that everyone knows that the Son of God has come among them?” It's not good because Jesus doesn't want to be seen as a warrior coming to overthrow the government of Rome.  It is critical that we all understand that Jesus is not a political messiah but a spiritual one. He comes to save not only Israel but the entire world from evil habits that plunder the soul of life. The violence with which the demon releases control of the possessed indicates Jesus’ power to carry out this mission.

Jesus' desire that his identity not be revealed has been called “the messianic secret.” We are going to see Jesus insist it being kept throughout our reading of Mark’s gospel this year. But there is an exception to this pattern. It occurs on Palm Sunday when we read the Passion according to Saint Mark. After Jesus’ death on the cross, the Roman centurion says openly, “Truly this man was the son of God.” Of course, Jesus’ death prevents the centurion’s being silenced, but there is no point that the secret be kept any longer. Through his passion and death Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, has revealed God’s purpose. He conquers human hearts by replacing sin with divine love.  

People in the synagogue say that Jesus speaks with “authority.” This word comes from the Latin word auctoritas meaning having influence over others. Jesus’ authority moves us to repent our greed, pride, lust, and other sins. It expels unclean spirits from their strategic position in our hearts. His authority frees us to follow him on the path of eternal life.

Friday, January 26, 2024

Memorial of St. Timothy and St. Titus, bishops

(II Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 4:6-34)

St. Timothy and St. Titus accompanied St. Paul on various parts of his missionary journeys.  They served as his assistants with tasks like carrying his letters and evaluating the needs of the communities Paul founded.  Eventually both came to lead Christian communities that were associated with Paul.  Timothy became what might be called “bishop of Ephesus” and Titus, “bishop of Crete.”

Today’s first reading emphasizes the continual reliance of Church leaders on faith.  They may be so preoccupied in giving commands that their relation with the Lord wanes.  On the other hand, they may become discouraged when few people express interest in their teaching.  If their faith falters, leaders cannot bring others to truly know the Lord.  As Paul writes, leaders are to stir up the faith that is within them by constant meditation and prayer.  Doing so, they will more ably assist their people on the road to eternal life.

Most of us have leadership responsibilities for which our faith serves well.  Parents, of course, have the physical and spiritual welfare of their children as a primary obligation.  On the job we want to convey confidence and concern to co-workers so that common objectives may be met.  Among friends we give tender care so that they may live with integrity and peace.

 

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, apostle

(Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18)

Today’s Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul marks the end of the Week of Prayer for Church Unity.  For over fifty years Christian churches have prayed from January 18 until today, January 25, that they might be united in worship.  The latter date was evidently chosen because as Paul was converted from a persecutor of Christians to its most accomplished promoter, so Christians today must experience a change of heart and mind if Christian unity is to be realized.

Catholics are by no means exempt from the necessity to change.  We must not think of Protestants as outside the possibility or the probability of salvation.  We also must recognize the virtues of Protestants and Orthodox.  Protestants have emphasized catechesis from childhood through adulthood.  Sunday school for children and Sunday evenings with a second lesson have been standards for many Protestant communities.  Orthodox greatly value liturgy, probably more so than Catholics.  They have a palpable sense of singing God’s praises outside the Eucharist as well as inside.

Sometimes it seems that Christian churches are farther apart now than ever.  Many Protestant churches’ ordaining women as bishops constitutes a singular barrier to reunion.  But the situation is not all grim.  Evangelical Christian churches see doctrine and, to an extent, church structure very similar to Catholics.  Orthodox and Catholics also are transcending historical differences in questions like the dating of Christmas.  We should not give up on seeing Christians united but pray all the harder that it becomes a reality.

Wednesday, January, 24, 2024

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(II Samuel 7:4-17; Mark 4:1-20)

The two readings today are encountered various times during the year.  In the first God covenants with His servant David to make one of his descendants an eternal king.  Christians, of course, see the promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

The gospel parable of seeds falling on different kinds of terrain is found in Mark, Matthew, and Luke.  With it Jesus urges his listeners to make of themselves the kind of earth that produces abundant fruit. His prescription for doing this is contained in the parable.  One must retreat from gossip and frivolous interests (the path).  One must also take care to reflect and pray (roots growing deep into the soil).  Finally, one must not be detoured by fame, fortune, or other pursuits (smothering thorns).

Today’s patron is somewhat well-known.  St. Francis de Sales was the Bishop of Geneva at the end of the Protestant Reformation. He wrote a classic book on spirituality called The Devout Life.  It famously says that everyone is called to sanctity but each according to his or her personal characteristics.  Francis means that we are all called to live in Christ’s eternal kingdom.  To arrive there, he would say, we must cultivate our lives to produce good fruit.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 6:12b-15.17-19; Mark 3:31-35)

The first reading today tells of King David making “burnt offerings” and “peace offerings.”  In a burnt offering the animal sacrificed to God is destroyed so that there is nothing to be eaten.  Burnt offerings were made to atone for sins.

A peace offering was not wholly consumed by fire. Blood was shed, of course, but most of the animal was left to be eaten by the people who brought it.  Peace offerings were not made to pacify God for sins but to thank God for His goodness. 

The Eucharist is a kind of peace offering.  The bread and the wine brought for sacrifice become the body and blood of Christ.  He is offered to God in a spirit of praise and thanks. The people who brought the sacrificial elements then receive them back transformed.  Eating Christ’s body and drinking Christ’s blood give them new life.  At the Last Supper Christ made a New Covenant with his disciples.  Under this arrangement their sins are forgiven.  They may leave in complete peace, freed from past sins and energized with new life.