The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 29, 2006
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Mark 1:21-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The first reading today from Deuteronomy gives us an amazing insight into God’s tolerance. The setting is the desert, where the Israelites are stalled on their journey toward the promised land. Why are they stalled? Because of their parents’ lack of faith. So now the young people beg Moses not to subject them anymore to God’s fire and thunder. “Moses!” they cry, “You are flesh and blood like us. You be God’s voice! Please!” And God agrees! “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin.” But God gives a warning: any prophet He chooses had better take the job seriously. So Moses was the first of a whole line of prophets for Israel who would set the agenda for the future Messiah.

In the Gospel, Mark narrates the scene of Jesus announcing that the kingdom of God has arrived. He proceeds to amaze the people by driving out a demon from a man who confronts him in the synagogue. He does it with an authority unlike that of their religious leaders.

Place yourself in that scene in the synagogue. Looking around, you might see one or two who might look enviously at Jesus. Would you be envious, too, knowing that you yourself might have a demon or two? What demon would you like driven out? In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians, “I should like you to be free of anxieties.” Does that ring a bell?

Jesus told us very clearly in the Gospels not to let worry get out of hand, not to be afraid, but to trust the power and the plan of His Heavenly Father. Of course, some stress is legitimate, like whether or not we pray enough every day. Do we calm our spirits and shut out distractions, so that we can really listen to the Lord? We should worry about our lack of trust, our lack of awareness that only one thing is necessary — to give over our worries to the Lord, and believe that our faith will be rewarded. If we do, the tension will drain from us. Free of demons, we will praise Him with joy.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life