It is 31st January 2021. We celebrate the fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The readings are from Deuteronomy 18:15-20; the second reading is 1Corinthians 7:32-35; and the Gospel from Mark 1:21-28.
As a disciple of Christ, who have received the Sacrament of Baptism, we are the prophets after the Prophet Jesus with authority. Inner authority to stir and tickle the soul of the other does not come by skills and efforts but from God. We all listen to so many preachers, teachers, and motivators. But a few of them permeate into our being and talk to our inner being at times makes us to come closer to God and has the touch to deal with our evil attachments.
A prophet is the person chosen by God to speak the Words of God to people. God speaks through a prophet time and time again. A person constantly in touch with God to listen to the Word of God not a fortune teller, predictor, and interpreter of the future. The mouthpiece of God is the prophet. To be a prophet means to listen, learn from, and lean on the Word of God. There is something in their Word that glues our longings and alleviate our fear and anxiety.
We all have a certain amount of authority one level or the other. Whether it is in a family, community, and in a country, we are bestowed, and entrusted with authority.
In the first reading, Moses prepared the minds of people as he was about to die to accept a prophet God planned to give them. He warned them the people not to go behind the false prophets and God would not hesitate to deal with them. The future prophet is none other than Christ himself. “Yahweh your God will raise up a prophet… from among yourselves, from your own brothers; to him you must listen.” (Deut.18:15). The previous chapter of today’s reading deals with the end of the false prophets and how would treat them. It is time to examine our life about who do we listen to this person for what reason. These days, we are so desperate to listen anyone who speaks what we want to hear even if they are false prophets. The Churches are not given a full access even now. So, there are many prophets mushrooming everywhere with the blanket of prayer and preaching. God vows to eradicate a lying, misleading and misinterpreting prophets who speak what they have not been inspired by God.
The responsorial Psalm alerts us, “If today, you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Ps.95:7,8).
St. Paul reminds us that we have higher responsibility to God even if we are married to a person. It is at times hard to listen and motivate the others who do not show any sign of change as we expect. So, we tend to give up on the person and eventually on God. It happened to St. Theresa of Avila who reformed the Carmelite order so much and at the end she complained to God about the indifference and lack of collaboration towards her. God replied her, “You look after my affairs, I will look after yours.” We all need to inculcate in ourselves an undivided heart that keeps God in front over everyone else or everything else.
As Jesus began His ministry, the unclean spirit interrupted his ministry. Having displayed His command over the Word of God, now Jesus anchored his authority over the unclean spirit and the evil. Jesus impressed the listeners and onlookers with inherent authority of the Word of God and the evil. Jesus displayed the power of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures. It is not only the spirit were shocked and feared but also those who witnessed the demonstration of authority of Jesus. Jesus desires to silence the unclean spirits in our personal life. “What is this? A new teaching-with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” The people admired Him not only for His preaching and healing but the authority He had in Himself. The unclean spirit is the one that imprisons our freedom to be the children of God. The authority and power are not our use, or to overuse, or to abuse. Jesus used His authority for the welfare of the others and that generated more power in those who enjoyed the healing from the Lord. Dominating others and silencing them is the manifestation of the unclean spirit. Who do I dominate in my family, community and in workplace? The forces of evil have no place in front and in the presence of Jesus. Authority of Jesus did not depend on anyone. His authority was from His own and from the wisdom and courage from the Holy Spirit. St. Mark clearly mentions the battle between Jesus and the evil forces. When we believe Jesus, we do not need to be afraid of any unclean and lying spirits and false prophecies. They can come no longer near us as long as we are near Jesus listening, learning, and leaning on Him. We may not yet know the power of Jesus even as a believer for such a long time, but the unclean spirits know who Jesus is.
Jesus is the expected Prophet as mentioned by Moses. People were attracted to Jesus because He spoke what God, the Father wanted Him to speak to us. There was no dichotomy in His Words and deeds. Consistency in our life makes the evil spirits tremble. “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 Jn.3:18). We are the prophets of the day. We need to listen to the Word of God and learn from it and make our life leaning on the Word. May the Lord help us to actualize our responsibility to demonstrate our faith in courage and truth. Have a lovely day. God bless you.