Be Quiet and Listen

4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Mark 1: 21-28     “Be quiet! Come out of that man!”

January 29, 2012:  

In today’s section of Mark’s Gospel, “the people were fascinated by the teaching of Jesus- a new teaching in spirit of authority.” The prophets, including the great Moses, used to say: “Thus says the Lord.” Jesus now says: “I tell you…” the exorcism accompanying Jesus’ teaching in Mark’s account emphasizes this authority. Where God’s word breaks through in human history, announcing the coming of his kingdom of justice, of love, and of peace, there evil must certainly cease!

Listen often and with faith to the Lord Jesus and to his teaching with authority, as we have it in Scripture. “Spellbound” by his words, you will keep balance in a society where so much cheap “wisdom” is for sale. We now ask ourselves: “Frankly speaking, how attentively do we listen to the word of God when we attend the Mass? Do we prepare to receive the message that God has for us?

In prayer, we now approach God the Father who has the power and the authority over all things especially over the burdens that weigh us down: “O COMPASSIONATE FATHER, WE REJOICE IN YOUR ABUNDANT LOVE FOR US. ESTABLISH YOUR AUTHORITY WITHIN US AND BE OUR COMPANION ON THE ROAD OF LIFE. THIS IS OUR PRAYER THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.