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Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass Readings <1>
First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/013121.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Thank you for joining me today for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes where every weekend we break open the Word. I’m so happy you’re here!
In my opinion, these are disturbing times. Everywhere we turn, it seems to me that there is disorder – even chaos. I can’t see the images of the insurrection at the US capitol as anything but chaotic. Add to this conspiracy theories and unreliable news. Frankly, it isn’t easy to know what to believe. As a husband and a parent, I worry about this world and the world my children live in. I don’t know what’s lurking around the corner! But I don’t have to worry!
My brothers and sisters, I have Good News! As we heard in today’s Gospel, Jesus Christ came to rebuke the forces of evil and chaos in the world and even in our lives!
Now the word “rebuke” is interesting. Scott Hahn tells us that we can find this same word used in other places in Scripture. He writes, “God by His Word “rebuked” the forces of chaos in creating the world (see Psalms 104:7; Job 26:10-12), and again rebuked the Red Sea so the Israelites could make their exodus (see Psalm 106:9) …” He goes on writing, “Mark uses the same word to describe Jesus rebuking the demons (see Mark 4:39; Zechariah 3:2).” <2>
My brothers and sisters, Jesus came into this world, and by the power of the Holy Spirit here with us now, God brings order to chaos. How does God do that exactly? Will God change political outcomes to our liking? No. Will God erase my debt and give me $1 million? No. Will God immediately remove my excess fat and make me look like some hot movie star? No.
Well, then, how does God bring order to my chaos? To answer that question, let’s take a look at a different situation.
Have you ever seen a kid who got really upset about something, like somebody eating their last piece of Christmas chocolate or drinking their soda? They can get upset and scream and holler and drive everyone around them nuts. Why do they lose it?
Well, I think any parent or any adult who’s ever looked after a child for any length of time will tell you, sometimes a child is missing perspective. They’re so focused on something that they are blind to the bigger picture.
Here’s another example. Have you seen the Disney and Pixar movie Soul? I don’t want to spoil it for you if you haven’t seen it yet, so I’ll stick to what you can find on the movie trailer. In the movie, a soul named Joe Gardner is talking with a baby soul called #22. Now, #22 has absolutely no desire to become human. 22 thinks she knows everything there is to know about life on earth (even though she hasn’t been born yet) and wants no part of it!
As you watch the movie, you realize that #22 is so absorbed by what she thinks she knows, she’s missing out on the joys of life. And in classic Disney and Pixar fashion, there’s a twist, then challenges get sorted out and then “The End.” “Happy ever after!” You get the gist.
I think adults can see through a tantrum, and even a movie like Soul resonates with us because, at some level, we understand – maybe even relate. We’ve been there and done that! Right? Oh, we might not like remembering that episode from our youth, but I think we all get what it means to lose perspective.
Now, I don’t want to offend you with what I’m about to say. But, then again, my mission is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable. So, here we go! I think there are many situations in adulthood where we adults lose perspective. Here’s an example. We become easily obsessed with the real-life drama of politics or stories about conspiracy theories and fake news. Somewhere along the way, we lost perspective and began to invest ourselves in narratives that just can’t deliver. None of these events can save our souls. So, in the big scheme of things, none of these things really matter.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s very easy to get caught up in political arguments and assert that my way is right and your way is just flat out wrong! But is that really what life is all about? Is your purpose to be glued to cable news networks or social media?
Yes, of course, our faith calls us to get involved – to bring our values to the public square. And chief among them are the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity. <3> I’ve got a great blog post that walks through this in more detail. I’ll leave the link to All Things Catholic Episode 20. https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/atc-20-faithful-citizenship/ So, we should engage in politics, but we need to be careful not to become absorbed by politics. The bishops of the United States put it this way: “When necessary, our participation should help transform the party to which we belong; we should not let the party transform us in such a way that we neglect or deny fundamental moral truths or approve intrinsically evil acts.” <4>
What does that mean? Well, it tells me that God forbid our salvation comes from Congress! Psalm 146 tells us, “Do not trust in rulers, nor in mortals, in whom there is no salvation” (Psalm 146:3). Being a good citizen means being politically engaged, but only to a certain point.
You see, when we appoint ourselves as vigilantes; when we appoint ourselves and judge and jury; when we become totally fixated on the news, then perhaps we lost perspective. Our Gospel reminds us that Jesus came into this world to rebuke evil and chaos. So, we need to allow Jesus into our hearts and our lives so that he can rebuke those things in our lives that are out of balance – those things over which we might have lost perspective.
When we allow Jesus into our lives; when we allow ourselves to be nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist; when we put God first in our lives, then chaos is rebuked and the unsettled feeling in our hearts are dispelled.
Homework! Reflecting on Christ who comes to rebuke chaos, I ask you to reflect on the following two questions this week:
First, where is my focus? Am I more caught up in the news than in my own family or friends?
Second, what are some ways I can keep my focus on God and my family and friends throughout the day?
I think our homework will help Jesus help us maintain focus. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! Would you pray with me? God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot CHANGE; Courage to CHANGE the things I can; and Wisdom to know the DIFFERENCE. The Lord be with you! May Almighty God bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Would you do me a favor? There’s a very basic survey I need help with. I’ll include the link in the notes to the podcast. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KRCLWK2 Would you fill it out for me? Your feedback will help me improve my homilies. If you have any thoughts about what should be in future surveys, please send an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!
Image Credit: Photo by Photo by Josep Castells on Unsplash
References:
<1> Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes in the podcast come from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013. The readings at the end of the podcast notes come from the USCCB website and are based on the Lectionary. In general, the revised Lectionary is based on the New American Bible. For more information, see “Questions about the Scriptures used during Mass.” https://www.usccb.org/offices/new-american-bible/liturgy
<2> Scott Hahn, Email, “The King’s Authority: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,” 25 January 2021.
<3> United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States, (Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2020), no. 5. Adobe Digital Editions PDF.
<4> FCFC, no. 14.
Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Scott Hahn, Email, “The King’s Authority: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,” 25 January 2021.
2. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
3. Montague, George T SM. First Corinthians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011. Kindle.
4. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2020. Adobe Digital Editions PDF.
Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Sabbath: 345-49
2. Fallen angels: 391-95
3. Exorcisms: 550, 1673
4. Consecrated life: 914-33
5. Consecration of virgins: 922-24
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/013121.cfm
Lectionary: 71
Reading 1
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Moses spoke to all the people, saying:
“A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you
from among your own kin;
to him you shall listen.
This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb
on the day of the assembly, when you said,
‘Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God,
nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’
And the LORD said to me, ‘This was well said.
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin,
and will put my words into his mouth;
he shall tell them all that I command him.
Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name,
I myself will make him answer for it.
But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name
an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak,
or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”
Responsorial
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9
R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Reading 2
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Brothers and sisters:
I should like you to be free of anxieties.
An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord,
how he may please the Lord.
But a married man is anxious about the things of the world,
how he may please his wife, and he is divided.
An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord,
so that she may be holy in both body and spirit.
A married woman, on the other hand,
is anxious about the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.
I am telling you this for your own benefit,
not to impose a restraint upon you,
but for the sake of propriety
and adherence to the Lord without distraction.
Alleluia
Matthew 4:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light;
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death,
light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 1:21-28
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.