1 Parish Bulletin Fourth Sunday in Ordinary

1 Parish Bulletin Fourth Sunday in Ordinary

1 Guardian Angels Parish 1161 Broughton Street, Vancouver BC V6G 2B3 Tel: 604-684-5775; Fax: 604-684-5757 Email: [email protected]; Website: guardianangelsvancouver.ca Pastor: Rev. John Alex Pinto, OCD REFLECTIONS 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Father Antony Kadavil (Dt 18:15-20; I Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28) January 31, 2021 Scripture lessons summarized: Today’s first reading tells us that a true prophet speaks with authority because it is God Who speaks through him. After the Baby- lonian exile, the Jewish priests began to interpret the words of Moses given in the first reading, namely, "a prophet like me," as referring to one individual, the expected Messiah. This passage is chosen for today’s first reading because it refers to Jesus, the "preacher with authority," mentioned in today's Gospel. In the second reading, St. Paul exercises his God-given authority as the Apostle to the Gentiles to teach people in Corinth that marriage is a holy state ordained by God and that it is a life-long “O that today you would listen to the partnership according to the teaching of the Lord. In today’s Gospel, Mark describes Voice of the Lord. Do not harden one sample Sabbath day of Jesus’ public your hearts .” life. Jesus joins in public worship in the -Psalm 95- synagogue as a practicing Jew, heals the sick, drives out evil spirits and prays privately. People immediately noticed that Church is temporarily CLOSED and Jesus spoke with authority and healed with NO Live-streaming until further notice Divine power. Jesus explained the Scrip- tures with complete confidence, and when out what God wanted of them? God answered the question by promising Moses questioned by people, he answered with that He would heed the people’s request and “raise up for them a prophet like authority. Jesus used his real (authentic) you from among their kin, and … put My words into his mouth; he shall tell Divine authority to teach, empower, liber- them all that I command him.” Jesus is the prophet foretold by Moses in today’s ate, and heal others. The evil spirit men- First Reading (Acts 3:22). He has authority over Heaven and earth (Daniel 7:14, tioned in today’s Gospel recognized Jesus 27; Revelation 12:10). Moses had set up a theocratic society for the Israelites as as the Messiah and acknowledged him as he had been instructed to do by God. This society had various officers to regu- such. Jesus commanded the evil spirit late the civil and religious life of the people, e.g., judges, kings, priests and harshly, using strong words and tones: "Be prophets. Today’s reading tells us that a true prophet would speak with authority quiet! Come out of him!" This was another because it would be God Who spoke through him. The text was first seen as reason Jesus developed a reputation for promising that there would be a line of prophets to interpret previous revelations speaking with authority. by God and to add some new ones for each generation. After the return from the Babylonian exile (c. 538 B. C.), the Jewish priests began to interpret this text of First reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Deuteronomy as referring to one individual, namely the Messiah who was to explained. Moses was about to die. The come. The New Testament followed this interpretation and saw these words of Chosen People were terrified because they dying Moses, "a prophet like me," verified in Christ (Acts 3:22; 7:37). These were about to lose the person who had been verses therefore, have been chosen for today's first reading because they refer to successfully leading them through the wil- Jesus, the "preacher with authority," mentioned in today's Gospel. derness toward the Promised Land. They Second reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, explained. St. Paul and most of the were also going to lose a prophet who had early Christians believed, or strongly hoped, that the end of this world and the been keeping them informed of Yahweh's second coming of Christ were imminent. For this reason, many Christians in will. When he died, how would they find 2 REFLECTIONS - Fr. Antony Kadavil, continued Corinth thought they should not enter into marriage, lest mar- with which he preached. Jesus also showed his power and au- riage should interfere with their whole-hearted service of God in thority by curing the sick and granting forgiveness to people. preparation for the second coming of Jesus. As a good Jew, Paul Exorcising with Divine authority: In the synagogue, there presumed a different set of circumstances always demanded a was a man who was troubled by an unclean spirit. Everyone in different prophet with a different word. Hence, St. Paul exer- the ancient Biblical world feared evil spirits and believed in cised his God-given authority as the Apostle to the Gentiles to demonic possession. People believed that demons or “unclean teach people that marriage is a holy state ordained by God and spirits” living inside the people caused leprosy, lameness, pa- that it is a life-long partnership according to the teaching of the ralysis, etc. Even in the twenty-first century, we still believe in Lord (see Mt. 5:32; 19:3-9). Further, Paul recommended a life of the existence of unclean spirits. How else can we explain the virginity to the non-married only if they felt they could live such sudden explosions of anger that occur, the suicidal impulses, a life. The advantage of celibacy, as Paul explained, was that the intense jealousies, wild sexual fantasies, or overwhelming celibates would have the freedom to serve God fully with the feelings of depression? We, as human beings, are keenly aware fewest earthly cares and worries. of these unclean spirits. We often wonder where the “unclean Gospel Exegesis: Worship and teaching in the synagogues: In thoughts” come from and why we can’t rid ourselves of them. Jesus’ time there were synagogues in Palestine in every city and Victory over the unclean spirit, as the devil is usually de- town of any importance, and, outside Palestine, wherever the scribed, is a clear sign that God's salvation has come: by over- Jewish community was large enough. “Synagogues were primar- coming the Evil One, Jesus shows that He is the Messiah, the ily houses of instruction; the synagogue service was comprised Savior, more powerful than the demons. The demoniac cried of three elements, prayer, the readings of Scripture and an expo- out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? “What sition of it. Administered by the laity, and geared to the day-to- does Jesus have to do with these unclean spirits that live in day catechesis of the people, the synagogues of ancient Judah each one of us? The answer we find in the Gospel is equally may have been an even more influential factor in Jewish life than true today: Jesus came to destroy the unclean spirits living the Temple. By law, wherever there were ten Jewish families, inside of us. That is one of the reasons why Jesus came to earth there had to be a synagogue. Neighborhood gathering places, the in the first place and one of the reasons why he continues his synagogues were vital to the Faith life of the community. There- presence in our lives. Jesus came to drive out those unclean fore, if a person had a message to preach, the synagogue was an spirits within us, to wash them away, to cleanse our lives of obvious choice of venue. There, Jesus gained a hearing; follow- them. Let us put ourselves under his authority and he will lib- ing his example, his disciples would do the same after his death erate us. The evil spirit in today’s Gospel recognized Jesus as and Resurrection.” (Patricia Datchuck Sanchez files). The syna- the Messiah and acknowledged him as such. Jesus commanded gogue consisted mainly of a rectangular room built in such a way the evil spirit harshly, using strong words and tones: "Be quiet! that those attending were facing Jerusalem when seated. There Come out of him!" This was one of the reasons why Jesus de- was a rostrum or pulpit from which Sacred Scripture was read veloped a reputation for speaking with authority. Today, we and explained. It was here that Jesus showed his authority to are challenged to believe that Jesus continues to exercise the teach (Navarre Bible Commentary). power to rout evil in all of its ugly disguises and manifesta- The authority of Jesus: Today’s Gospel passage begins and tions, viz., in poverty, sickness, greed, hatred, indifference, ends with comments about Jesus’ authority as a teacher (1:21-22 over-indulgence, etc., using us and our ministry. and 1:27-28). He spoke like Moses, telling people directly what Life Messages: 1) Let us approach Jesus for liberation: Jesus God had to say. In between is an exorcism (1:23-26), pointing did not use his authority and Divine power to rule and control out a connection between Jesus' teachings and his supernatural people. He came to set people free. Hence, let us approach authority. Moreover, this is the first miracle in Jesus’ ministry as Jesus with trusting Faith so that he may free us from the evil Mark recounts it. The episode appears immediately following the spirits that keep us from praying and prevent us from loving call of the disciples. Jesus' authority is also the main theme in the and sharing our blessings with others, as well as from all the collection of stories (2:1–-3:6), which support the authority of “evil spirits” of fear, compulsions, selfishness, anger, resent- Jesus when he teaches people about God's compassion in forgiv- ment and hostility.

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