IV Sunday in OT:[B]:2015- Deut 18:15-20; 1Cori 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28

IV Sunday in OT:[B]:2015- Deut 18:15-20; 1Cori 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28

Gospel passage for today shows that Jesus new teaching is with authority. Jesus being son of man teaching is the reason for authority. And it is a new teaching. It can be representing New Testament teaching.  There are two things to concentrate on. 1) New teaching corresponds with practical life of comforting others and 2) New teaching of introducing merciful God, forgiving God expressed in love of enemy.

Jesus begins his public life with many acts of power done out of compassion for the needs of others. Immediately before, Mark has told us of the baptism of Jesus, with the Spirit descending upon him and the voice from heaven saying to him, "You are my beloved Son? (Mark 1: 11) Jesus is then tempted by Satan not to trust that affirmation. After the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus goes to Galilee where he proclaims that the kingdom of God is at hand. He calls disciples to follow him, and together they go to the synagogue at Capernaum (today's gospel passage).

More of the implications of this passage may reveal themselves if we remember the narrative context into which Mark places it. After this cure of the demoniac, Jesus cures Simon's mother-in-law and many others afflicted either by illness or by evil spirits.  Curing the sick is considered, for Mark, as a new teaching with authority. Jesus’ authority was questioned in Luke chapter 20:1. Why is it new teaching? May be the teaching is accompanied with the practical life of convulsing the evil spirits, may be Jesus’ new teaching changes from of old to express revenge with love of enemy. Evil spirits are considering Jesus as enemy, but for Jesus evil spirits are not enemies but means of showing his mercy.

The cure of the demoniac represents the beginning of the messianic age when the power of Satan's kingdom will at last be destroyed ("Have you come to destroy us?”). Jesus enters a world in which Satan reigns, teaches with the authority of God, and with compassion casts out evil spirits that hold people in bondage and fear. Christ's mission, begun here, will not be completed until the end, "when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power? The last enemy to be destroyed is death? (1 Corinthians 15: 24, 26). The destruction here is for personal revival of the self.

A couple of weeks ago one of my friend Pastor, Dr. Jose Maniparambil pointed out something in video posting in YouTube videos about this new teaching of Jesus which I found very interesting and I had never heard before. He was giving commentary on Luke 4:18-21. Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 61, and he stops mid sentence. Look at what Isaiah says in chapter 61: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God;….. “

The phrase “and the day of vengeance of our God” is excluded from Jesus’ reading of the scripture.

My thoughts went immediately to verses like John 3:17: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Joke:   The preacher's Sunday sermon was Forgive Your Enemies. Toward the end of the service, He asked his congregation, "how many of you have forgiven their enemies"?    About half held up their hands. He then repeated his question. As it was past lunchtime, this time about 80 percent held up their hands. He then repeated his question again. All responded, except one small elderly lady.  "Mrs. Jones?" inquired the preacher, Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?    "I don't have any." she replied. smiling sweetly.     "Mrs. Jones, That is very unusual. How old are you?" "Ninety-three," she replied.  "Oh Mrs. Jones, what a blessing and a lesson to us all you are. Would you please come down in front of this congregation and tell us all how a person can live ninety-three years and not have an enemy in the world."  The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said "I outlived the old hags."     

Practical Applications: Do you think there is any significance to the fact that Jesus stopped mid-sentence? Were they waiting with baited breath for Jesus to read the next phrase and then astonished when he didn’t? Is the coming of Christ all about God’s favor, and not at all about God’s vengeance? If so, does that impact how we preach and how we teach? Are Hellfire and Brimstone sermons out of line? Is condemnation and vengeance Good News?

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Introduction

Message: Jesus came as one who spoke in the name of the Lord, teaching with authority.  Let us listen to his voice and adhere to him above anything else.

Saints and Events in this Week: 2 – Second – Monday – The Presentation of the Lord – 3 – Third – Tuesday – Saint Blaise, Bishop, Martyr; Saint Ansgar, Bishop; Note: In memory of Saint Blaise, Blessing of Throats will be there immediately after mass this Tuesday. 5 – Fifth – Thursday – Saint Agatha, Virgin, Martyr; 6 – Sixth – Friday – Saint Paul Miki, Martyr, and companions, martyrs;