Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the risen Lord, believers, and sacred Scripture. Without the Lord's guidance, it is impossible to understand the Scriptures. Similarly, without the Scriptures, the mission of Jesus and the church would be incomprehensible. Through prayerful contemplation of the Gospels, we seek to connect with Jesus. The passage from Mark's Gospel highlights Jesus' authority in teaching and performing miracles. His words have a transformative power, bringing about healing and restoration. We are encouraged to meditate on the passage and reflect on its personal significance. The exorcism performed by Jesus reminds us of the need for liberation from our own struggles and negative influences. We are invited to bring our burdens before Jesus and seek freedom through his authority. It is suggested to continue contemplating the passage and engage in a conversation with Jesus about its impact. Finally, we are encouraged to internalize the word Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospel. Pope Francis has said, quote, the relationship between the risen Lord, the community of believers and sacred Scripture is essential to our identity as Christians. Without the Lord who opens our minds to them, it is impossible to understand the Scriptures in depth. Yet the contrary is equally true, the Holy Father insists. Without the Scriptures, the events of the mission of Jesus and of his church in this world would remain incomprehensible, close quote. We prayerfully ponder the Gospels so as to touch Jesus. We turn now to Jesus in prayer that he might open the Scriptures to us. And so we open our hearts, our spirits to the risen Lord. We take a moment to quiet ourselves. If you will, take a deep breath slowly in and slowly out. Come Lord Jesus, allow your Holy Spirit to bring your word to life in me. May I hear your voice, good shepherd. Reading a passage from the Gospel is the first step of the ancient prayer of Lectio Divina. By reading we begin to grow in familiarity with the narrative, opening ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit carried on the words of the Gospel. On this fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we read from Mark's Gospel, chapter 1, verses 21 through 28. Then they came to 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 synagogue was a man with an 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 rebuked him and said, Quiet, come out of him. The unclean spirit 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. This passage and next week's Gospel come from a section in Mark known simply as A Typical Day in Jesus' Ministry. What typically unfolded in Jesus' ministry once his public life began is what Mark so succinctly expresses in these few verses of his first chapter. Simply put, Jesus taught and worked powerful deeds, healing people and freeing them from the grip of evil spirits. What I would like to draw our attention to is the reality of authority that is pointed to twice in this brief passage. Jesus taught as one having authority, for he came with a new teaching full of authority. What the people encountered in Jesus is given wonderful expression, for me at least, by Pope Benedict XVI. He insisted that what is discovered in Jesus is that his words are not simply informative, but they are performative. This is what is captured in that phrase in our Gospel, a new teaching with authority. Jesus spoke about healing, and as he spoke, people were healed. He shared about God's mercy, information, and people experienced mercy and reconciliation in their relationships, performance. Jesus proclaimed a kingdom that restores the reign of God's saving love, again, information, and people found freedom from disorder and the grip of evil spirits, performative. Jesus' words, you see, bring about the good news they express. Think of God at creation. In Genesis 1, verse 3, we read, Then God spoke, Let there be light, and there was light. What God says, God does. So too with Jesus. When Jesus speaks, new creation happens. For a second time now, we turn to the Gospel passage to read it. Please friends, be aware. These words are filled with life, with authority. Be sensitive as the passage is read to how it speaks to you personally. Where do you experience the power, the authority in these words? What stirs your emotions, captures your imagination, stimulates your mind as you hear the reading? Once again, we open ourselves to the word as we read Mark chapter 1, verses 21 through 28. Then they came to 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 synagogue was a man with an 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 rebuked him and said, Quiet, come out of him. The unclean spirit 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 second step of Lectio Divina after reading is meditation. To meditate we pause to ponder and reflect on what has stood out to us, to savor the word, phrase, or image from the gospel that speaks most powerfully to us. We ask in meditating the question asked by the crowd in today's gospel, What is this? What in this passage is speaking to you? My own heart is stirred by the exorcism Jesus performs in this narrative. I am reminded that the most frequent healing Jesus does in the gospels is to free people from bondage to evil spirits. Where am I still in need of release from bondages? What darkness, troubling forces still affect me? Persistent temptations, patterns of anger, gripping resentments, negativity, self-pity, anxieties and fears. Jesus, I come before you, still troubled by unclean spirits. Speak your word of authority that I might experience greater freedom. Come with the liberty of your saving kingdom for me in my personal life. Friends, let me invite you again to continue to sit with this gospel passage. Notice how it stirs within you. Talk to Jesus about what his word is doing in you now. Before leaving prayer, be sure to intentionally place the word you have received deep in your spirit where the Lord might bring it growth throughout this week ahead. And friends, it is a joy to share the gospel with you.