The Holy One Of God (FOURTH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME - B)

JANUARY 28, 2024 - SUNDAY
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)
Lectionary: 71
CYCLE B - YEAR II

Reading 1
Dt 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
Ps 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 Cor 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
Mt 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
Mk 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."

REFLECTION:

In driving out devils Jesus shows that in the reign of God there is no room for oppressive evil forces which weigh down on God’s children. No one should have to live in hell. Jesus is in agony until the end of the world, standing with us against all forms of addiction, exploitation, violence and abuse.

Jesus, from the start of your ministry you reveal how the gift of power is to be expressed: not in dominance but in healing service. In what way do I exercise my power and authority?

PRAYER:

Lord, I am faced with a world filled with violence, greed, hunger and evil. I struggle to believe that you have overcome evil. Help me to see that you are at work in the small signs of love, justice and truth around me.re throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus Drives Out An Impure Spirit

JANUARY 10, 2023, TUESDAY

Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE A - YEAR I

Lectionary: 306

Reading I

Heb 2:5-12

It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come,

of which we are speaking.

Instead, someone has testified somewhere:

    What is man that you are mindful of him,

        or the son of man that you care for him?

    You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

        you crowned him with glory and honor,

        subjecting all things under his feet.

In “subjecting” all things to him,

he left nothing not “subject to him.”

Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” 

but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor”

because he suffered death,

he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,”

that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting that he,

for whom and through whom all things exist,

in bringing many children to glory,

should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.

He who consecrates

and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.

Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers” saying: 

 I will proclaim your name to my brethren,

    in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

Responsorial Psalm

8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9

R.    (see 7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

O LORD, our Lord,

    how glorious is your name over all the earth!

What is man that you should be mindful of him,

    or the son of man that you should care for him?

R.    You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

You have made him little less than the angels,

    and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him rule over the works of your hands,

    putting all things under his feet.

R.    You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

All sheep and oxen,

    yes, and the beasts of the field,

The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,

    and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

R.    You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

Alleluia

See 1 Thes 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,

but as it truly is, the word of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, 

and on the sabbath he 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.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

In driving out devils Jesus shows that in the reign of God there is no room for oppressive evil forces which weigh down on God’s children. No one should have to live in hell. Jesus is in agony until the end of the world, standing with us against all forms of addiction, exploitation, violence and abuse.

Jesus, from the start of your ministry you reveal how the gift of power is to be expressed: not in dominance but in healing service. In what way do I exercise my power and authority?

PRAYER:

Lord, I am faced with a world filled with violence, greed, hunger and evil. I struggle to believe that you have overcome evil. Help me to see that you are at work in the small signs of love, justice and truth around me.

Jesus Drives Out An Impure Spirit

AUGUST 30, 2022, TUESDAY

Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 432

Reading 1

1 COR 2:10B-16

Brothers and sisters:

The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Among men, who knows what pertains to the man

except his spirit that is within?

Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.

We have not received the spirit of the world

but the Spirit who is from God,

so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.

And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom,

but with words taught by the Spirit,

describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,

for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,

because it is judged spiritually.

The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything

but is not subject to judgment by anyone.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13AB, 13CD-14

R. (17) The Lord is just in all his ways.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

Making known to men your might

and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The LORD lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

 

 

Alleluia

LK 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst

and God has visited his people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.

He taught them on the sabbath,

and they were astonished at his teaching

because he spoke with authority.

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, 

and he cried out in a loud voice,

“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, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”

Then the demon threw the man down in front of them

and came out of him without doing him any harm.

They were all amazed and said to one another,

“What is there about his word?

For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,

and they come out.”

And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

When was the last time somebody made a deep impression on me? What did I do in consequence, how have I grown? I give thanks to God for those who have spoken or acted with authority, bringing truth or meaning to my life.

The evil spirit knew its opposite and saw that it’s time was up; I pray that my presence and values may create a space for good where God’s positive Spirit is present and evident.

PRAYER:

Lord, the people were astounded at hearing you. Let me too be amazed by your words, especially when you reveal the goodness of your Father towards me. Jolt me from my dullness. Let me experience your disturbing freshness, your vision of how we should live. May your promises of eternal life give me energy and joy, no matter how difficult my life may be right now.

Jesus Drives Out An Impure Spirit

August 31, 2021, Tuesday
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 432

Reading I
1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11

Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.
When people are saying, “Peace and security,”
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, 
and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light 
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.
For God did not destine us for wrath,
but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep
we may live together with him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up,
as indeed you do.

Responsorial Psalm
27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Alleluia
Lk 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, 
and he cried out in a loud voice,
“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, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.”
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

REFLECTION:

When was the last time somebody made a deep impression on me? What did I do in consequence, how have I grown? I give thanks to God for those who have spoken or acted with authority, bringing truth or meaning to my life.

The evil spirit knew its opposite and saw that it’s time was up; I pray that my presence and values may create a space for good where God’s positive Spirit is present and evident.

PRAYER:

Lord, the people were astounded at hearing you. Let me too be amazed by your words, especially when you reveal the goodness of your Father towards me. Jolt me from my dullness. Let me experience your disturbing freshness, your vision of how we should live. May your promises of eternal life give me energy and joy, no matter how difficult my life may be right now. 

The Holy One of God

January 31, 2021, Sunday 

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

PRO-LIFE SUNDAY

CYCLE B - YEAR I

RDGS: DT 18:15-20/ PS 95:1-2. 6-7. 7-9/ 1 COR 7:32-35

GOSPEL: MK 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, 

and on the sabbath he 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.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

In driving out devils Jesus shows that in the reign of God there is no room for oppressive evil forces which weigh down on God’s children. No one should have to live in hell. Jesus is in agony until the end of the world, standing with us against all forms of addiction, exploitation, violence and abuse.

Jesus, from the start of your ministry you reveal how the gift of power is to be expressed: not in dominance but in healing service. In what way do I exercise my power and authority?

PRAYER:

Lord, I am faced with a world filled with violence, greed, hunger and evil. I struggle to believe that you have overcome evil. Help me to see that you are at work in the small signs of love, justice and truth around me.