Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Sunday, 1 February 2015

Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Sunday, 1 February 2015
Meditation - Mark 1: Jesus throws a demon out
21 Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. 22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. 23 Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”
25 “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.
27 Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” 28 Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. (Mark 1:27)
So many people—especially those living in the West—have dismissed the existence of evil spirits. But that’s a big mistake. Evil spirits are real, and they are always at work, trying to destroy our faith and the Church as a whole.
Now, few people are actually possessed by evil spirits, but most of us experience what we may call spiritual harassment from them. Think of how Peter tried to convince Jesus not to go to the cross, only to hear him reply, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23). Clearly, Peter wasn’t possessed. Still, the devil had gotten into his mind and suggested thoughts that were contrary to God’s plan.
Satan wants to confuse and mislead us, just as he did to Peter. So how do we guard our minds? By trying our best to agree with Jesus. Of course, we should always feel free to ask questions, just as Mary did when she asked the angel, “How can this be?” (Luke 1:34). That’s a lot different from fighting Jesus or going against what he clearly tells us. When we think we know better than Jesus, we are opening ourselves up to the devil’s harassment.
Peter learned how to overcome this harassment, and so can we. The first thing we need to do is acknowledge that it is going on and take action. So when you wake up each morning, ask the Lord to protect you and your loved ones. Call on the name of Jesus, pray to St. Michael the Archangel, or simply mark yourself with the sign of the cross.
Second, keep building your faith. Soak yourself in the Scriptures. Read upbuilding spiritual books. Focus on Jesus during Mass. Nothing helps us stay clear-minded more than faith.
Finally, believe that Jesus rules the universe. He wants to help you be alert to the divisive whispers of the devil. Trust that Jesus, who lives in you, is far stronger than “the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
“Lord, help me to stand firm and resist the devil’s temptations today.” Amen!
Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord your God will raise up a prophet like me from your community, from your fellow Israelites. He’s the one you must listen to. 16 That’s exactly what you requested from the Lord your God at Horeb, on the day of the assembly, when you said, “I can’t listen to the Lord my God’s voice anymore or look at this great fire any longer. I don’t want to die!”
17 The Lord said to me: What they’ve said is right. 18 I’ll raise up a prophet for them from among their fellow Israelites—one just like you. I’ll put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will hold accountable anyone who doesn’t listen to my words, which that prophet will speak in my name. 20 However, any prophet who arrogantly speaks a word in my name that I haven’t commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must die.
Psalms 95:1 Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord!
    Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let’s come before him with thanks!
    Let’s shout songs of joy to him!
6 Come, let’s worship and bow down!
    Let’s kneel before the Lord, our maker!
7 He is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the sheep in his hands.
If only you would listen to his voice right now!
8     “Don’t harden your hearts
    like you did at Meribah,
    like you did when you were at Massah,
        in the wilderness,
9     when your ancestors tested me
        and scrutinized me,
    even though they had already seen my acts.
1 Corinthians 7:32 I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the world’s concerns—how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided. A woman who isn’t married or who is a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s concerns so that she can be dedicated to God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the world’s concerns—how she can please her husband. 35 I’m saying this for your own advantage. It’s not to restrict you but rather to promote effective and consistent service to the Lord without distraction.
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
[Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord your God will raise up a prophet like me from your community, from your fellow Israelites. He’s the one you must listen to. 16 That’s exactly what you requested from the Lord your God at Horeb, on the day of the assembly, when you said, “I can’t listen to the Lord my God’s voice anymore or look at this great fire any longer. I don’t want to die!”
17 The Lord said to me: What they’ve said is right. 18 I’ll raise up a prophet for them from among their fellow Israelites—one just like you. I’ll put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will hold accountable anyone who doesn’t listen to my words, which that prophet will speak in my name. 20 However, any prophet who arrogantly speaks a word in my name that I haven’t commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must die.
Psalms 95:1 Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord!
    Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let’s come before him with thanks!
    Let’s shout songs of joy to him!
6 Come, let’s worship and bow down!
    Let’s kneel before the Lord, our maker!
7 He is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the sheep in his hands.
If only you would listen to his voice right now!
8     “Don’t harden your hearts
    like you did at Meribah,
    like you did when you were at Massah,
        in the wilderness,
9     when your ancestors tested me
        and scrutinized me,
    even though they had already seen my acts.
1 Corinthians 7:32 I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the world’s concerns—how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided. A woman who isn’t married or who is a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s concerns so that she can be dedicated to God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the world’s concerns—how she can please her husband. 35 I’m saying this for your own advantage. It’s not to restrict you but rather to promote effective and consistent service to the Lord without distraction.
Mark 1: Jesus throws a demon out
21 Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. 22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. 23 Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”
25 “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.
27 Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” 28 Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.]
1. In the reading from Deuteronomy, God tells the people of Israel that he will raise up a prophet from among them. He goes on to warn them with these words, “Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it.” We know that this passage was ultimately fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. How seriously do you take the words of Jesus when they require you to do something, or give up something, you don’t want to. Do you sometimes find yourself making excuses for not doing what you know the Lord is calling you to do? If so, what are they?
2. The responsorial psalm continues the message of the first reading by warning us not to harden our hearts. There are many ways our culture and our fallen nature can harden our hearts. How would you describe the things that can harden your heart from being a disciple and following the Lord?
3. Although St. Paul tells us in the second reading to be “free of anxieties,” he also tells us to be “anxious about the things of the Lord” and how you “may please the Lord.” What are the "things of the Lord" that make you “anxious” to please him?
4. In the Gospel, Jesus not only taught with authority, but he also healed and delivered the man with an unclean spirit with that same authority. The reaction to Jesus was that the people were " astonished". In what ways have you been “astonished” by Jesus’ healing touch on your life or others?
5. Do you believe that the authority and the calling that Jesus gave his disciples have also been given to us as well—to heal the sick, proclaim the Good News, and make disciples? Or do you believe that this authority and calling is reserved for just a few, but not for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord and lives in union with him? If so, why?
6. The meditation describes what can be called “spiritual harassment” and the steps we can take to overcome this harassment. How would you describe spiritual harassment in your own life? In what ways can the steps described in the meditation help you to resist this harassment?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for the grace to win the battle against the temptations of the devil? Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Lord, help me to stand firm and resist the devil’s temptations today.” Amen!
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