Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time , Year B
Feb 1, 2015
Gospel, Mark 1:21-28
Then they
came to (1) Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The
people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having
authority and not as the scribes.
In their (2) synagogue was a man with an (3) unclean spirit; 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!”
Jesus (4) rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of
him!” The unclean spirit (5) convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and
asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands
even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere
throughout the whole region of Galilee.
The
difficult words
(1) Capernaum is a city on
the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
(2) Synagogue is a place of worship for
a Jewish congregation.
(3) An unclean spirit here is a devil.
(4) To rebuke someone means to
correct sharply, to make someone stop doing evil.
(5) To convulse means to jerk or
shake violently and uncontrollably.
The word
"Gospel" comes from a Greek The word meaning "good news."
It is the name given to the four New Testament
books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The
Evangelists who wrote the Gospels have testified to the Good News by writing
about the life and message of Jesus. This week, the priest reads a passage from
the Gospel according to Saint Mark. Mark begins his book with this
proclamation: "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of
God."
Reflection
How do we
recognize true authority? Jesus' authority was obvious to those who listened to
him at the synagogue in Capernaum. They could tell that Jesus' teaching was
different from what they had heard before. He confronted evil, rejected it, and
proclaimed a different kind of reign than they were used to hearing about from
other religious figures. His words and witness spoke of the power of God in a
convincing way that they had never encountered before. He taught not just
through words, but through his actions.
Jesus
taught with authority by offering his listeners the experience of a God who
freely offered salvation to all, but especially sinners. Those who were
considered to be sinners by many religious authorities included the least, the
forgotten, the poor, women, those on the fringe, and those without hope. To
these people, Jesus offered the message of God's steadfast love. Jesus gives
the people hope by offering them the choice to live the reality of this new
reign in how they love one another. By responding to the command of God in his
own life, like the prophets before him, Jesus taught with a new authority, so
that even evil recognized him.
People could tell that there was something different about Jesus.
He spoke with authority. He did not teach like a scribe who knows things about
God, but like the Son who actually knows God, his Father. This is because he
really is "the Holy One of God." When Jesus speaks, actions follow:
the sick are cured, the blind begin to see, and bad spirits flee in fear.
Jesus' words have real power to free the world from evil. He puts that power in
us by grace. We may not have miraculous powers, but we really can know God, our
Father. We really can live in the world without being controlled by evil. We
really can change the world by the power of forgiveness and love. This is why
St. Paul wants us to "be free of all anxieties." If we know Jesus,
his powerful words will set us free.
Did you ever hear the saying "Actions speak louder than words"?
It's not enough to say that we'll do something — we have to actually do it in
your morning prayers, ask the Lord to help you do everything you say you will
do so you can be a trustworthy person. Keeping your word is always easier when
God helps you!
Discussion
1. Where did Jesus teach
the people of God?
2. What happened when
Jesus was teaching?
3. Whom did Jesus rebuke?
4. What did the unclean spirit
talk about Jesus?
5. When did Jesus
teach in the synagogue?
6. Why were people
amazed at Jesus’ teaching?
7. Jesus teaches the
people through words in the temple. But he also teaches them and us through his
actions. He lives out what he is teaching. Can you think of an example when
Jesus teaches us through his actions? What does he want us to learn?
Praying after Communion
After receiving Holy Communion, you can say this prayer silently
to yourself. If you have not yet received your First Communion, you can still
say this prayer because of your desire to receive Jesus.
Father,
through Jesus Christ, in union with the whole Church, I thank you for coming
into my heart. Help us to listen to your Son's teaching and put it into
practice. Send us your Holy Spirit to guide us to eternal life. Amen.
Crossword Puzzle
For further reference....