Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 71
Lectionary: 71
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.'"
"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
PsalmPS 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.
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 21 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.
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.
AlleluiaMT 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.
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.
GospelMK 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.
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.
Meditation: Jesus taught with authority
Do
you believe that God's word has power to set you free and to transform your
life? When Jesus taught he spoke with authority. He spoke the word of God as no
one had spoken it before. When the Rabbis taught they supported their
statements with quotes from other authorities. The prophets spoke with
delegated authority - "Thus says the Lord." When Jesus spoke
he needed no authorities to back his statements. He was authority incarnate -
the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even
the demons obeyed.Faith works through love and abounds in hope
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) remarked that "faith is mighty, but without love it profits nothing. The devils confessed Christ, but lacking charity it availed nothing. They said, 'What have we to do with you' (Mark 1:24)? They confessed a sort of faith, but without love. Hence they were devils."
Faith is powerful, but without love it profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13). Scripture tells us that true faith works through love (Galatians 5:6) and abounds in hope (Romans 15:13). Our faith is made perfect in love because love orients us to the supreme good which is God himself as well as the good of our neighbor who is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26,27).
Hope anchors our faith in the promises of God and purifies our desires for the things which will last for eternity. That is why the word of Christ has power to set us free from all that would keep us bound up in sin, deception, and despair. Bede the venerable abbot of an English monastery (672-735) contrasted the power and authority of Jesus' word with the word of the devil: "The devil, because he had deceived Eve with his tongue, is punished by the tongue, that he might not speak" [Homilies on the Gospels 1.8].
Faith must be nourished with the Word of God
Faith is both a free gift of God and the free assent of our will to the whole truth that God has revealed. To live, grow, and persevere in the faith to the end, we must nourish it with the word of God. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds that we may grow in his truth and in the knowledge of his great love for each of us. If we approach God's word with trust and submission, and with an eagerness to do what the Lord desires for us, then we are in a much better position to learn what God wants to teach us through his word. Are you eager to be taught by the Lord and to conform your mind, heart, attitude, and intentions according to his word of truth, goodness, and love?
"Lord Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your love and mercy, and the power of your word that sets us free, and brings healing and restoration to body, mind, heart, and spirit."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Knowing without loving, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Those words show clearly that the demons had much knowledge, but entirely lacked love. They dreaded receiving their punishment from him. They did not love the righteousness that was in him. He made himself known to them to the extent he willed; and he willed to be made known to the extent that was fitting. But he was not made known to them as he is known to the holy angels, who enjoy participation in his eternity, in that he is the Word of God. To the demons he is known as he had to be made known, by striking terror into them, for his purpose was to free from their tyrannical power all who were predestined for his kingdom and glory, which is eternally true and truly eternal. Therefore, he did not make himself known to the demons as the life eternal, and the unchangeable light which illuminates his true worshipers, whose hearts are purified by faith in him so that they see that light. He was known to the demons through certain temporal effects of his power, the signs of his hidden presence, which could be more evident to their senses, even those of malignant spirits, than to the weak perception of human beings. (excerpt from CITY OF GOD 9.21)
4th Sunday of Advent – Cycle B
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Introduction
Anticipation and preparedness are the watchwords for Advent. Anticipation of the celebration of the birth of our Lord some 2000 years ago and the festivities, gifts, parties and family get-togethers which accompany that celebration. Preparedness because we are reminded that Jesus will come at the end of the world (the parousia) and all will be judged – not just on whether they believed or not, but how they have lived out their belief. Are the end times near? No one knows but the Father. We must always be ready because our personal parousia can come at any time.
1st Reading - 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
The two books of Samuel were originally one book which forms a continuation of the deuteronomic history of God’s chosen people. The book is first dominated by Samuel, the last of the Judges, who struggles to keep Israel faithful to Yahweh under increasing pressure from the Philistines. Defeats and the loss of the ark of the covenant, symbol of Yahweh’s protection, show that Israel needs a new kind of leadership – a king. Samuel anoints the first two kings, Saul and his successor, David. Saul constructs the beginnings of a stable monarchy but incurs divine displeasure and ends his rule in fits of black despondency and murderous hatred of David.
In the second book, the book from which our reading today comes, David is installed as king of Judah, and later as king of Israel as well. The twelve tribes are reunited under one leader. The reunited Israel then enjoys its most glorious period for it is, briefly, a major power in the Near East. Most important, however, is that David is the model for all kingship in Israel. He is a forceful yet attractive character, very human in his failings but passionate and intimate in his devotion to Yahweh. To him and to his line is promised endless rule, the basis of all future hope for a Messiah. This is our reading for today.
7:1 When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
The peace which followed the victories over the Philistines had enabled David to arrange the bringing of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem where it resides in a tabernacle (tent). Nathan is the senior religious advisor of David’s court.
3 Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.” 4 But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: 5 “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
God equates His presence with the ark of the covenant. The ark is the sign of Yahweh’s covenant with His people and their protection against every coercive power. The ark was carried before the troops when they entered into battle.
8b It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. 10 I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, 11 since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
This house is not the promise of a building, but of a dynasty, the House of David.
12 And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
The assurance of divine favor is extended to the dynasty.
14a I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
This is covenant language, they will be part of God’s family. David didn’t build the Temple to house the ark of the covenant, his son Solomon is the one chosen by God for this task. This is not a rejection of David, but a glorification of him through his son – no parent feels rejected when their child accomplishes great things.
16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
This oracle is the earliest statement of the belief in the eternity of the dynasty of David, and is the root of the messianic expectation of the rule of David.
2nd Reading - Romans 16:25-27
Our second reading today is the final three verses of Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans. The letter was written to a congregation which had not been founded by Saint Paul, but was one which he anticipated visiting. The congregation is primarily composed of converted Jews and it is from the viewpoint of a former Pharisee that Saint Paul writes.
In our reading today, we find a new and different approach to the Jewish Scriptures:
the great mystery of God, gradually unveiled in the course of human history, is now fully understood in the light of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection.
25 Now to him who can strengthen you,
Saint Paul blesses God, who assures the gospel of Christ to human beings.
according to my gospel
This is the good news which Saint Paul makes known.
and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages 26 but now manifested through the prophetic writings
The Old Testament writings that bear on the mystery mentioned – such as our first reading.
“By saying this Paul is releasing the weak person from fear. For this secret was contained in the law. Indeed, it is what the law was all about. We cannot ask why it should be disclosed now, for to do this would be to call God to account. We ought not to behave like busybodies but instead be content with what we have been given.” [ Saint John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 391), Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 27]
and, according to the command of the eternal God,
Saint Paul may well be alluding to his commission as an apostle.
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
Saint Paul sees faith as a process that begins with hearing and ends with a personal commitment and submission. This is what we Catholics call “faith and works.” It is interesting that the first and last mention of “faith” in Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans is expressed in terms of “obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5 and 16:26).
27 to the only wise God,
“Do not think that Paul said this in disparagement of the Son. For if all the things whereby His wisdom was made apparent were done by Christ and nothing was done without Him, it is quite plain that the Son is equal to the Father in wisdom also. The word ‘only’ is used in order to contrast God with every created being.” [Saint John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 391), Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 27]
through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.
The climax of the doxology. Praise is paid to God the Father through the Son, Jesus the Christ.
Gospel - Luke 1:26-38
Saint Luke was a Syrian of Antioch. He was neither an apostle nor an eyewitness of Jesus’ earthly life. He wasn’t even a prominent figure in the apostolic Church. He was a physician and a companion or collaborator of Saint Paul. Although Saint Luke is believed to have derived his gospel (and the Acts of the Apostles) from Saint Paul, it bears little reflection of Saint Paul’s theology as reflected in his letters. This has led scholars to theorize that Saint Luke’s association with Saint Paul was early, before Saint Paul’s theology was fully developed, before Saint Paul engaged in serious letter writing, and before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). A more likely answer is that the gospel message is like a brilliant jewel, and each individual approaches that jewel by viewing a different facet. The Holy Spirit has guided each of the sacred writers as they wrote, writing in terms with which they were familiar, and ensuring that each writer taught no theological error, no matter in what style he wrote.
Only two gospels contain what are known as the infancy narratives of Jesus. Today we hear the story of the Annunciation from Saint Luke’s gospel. If it sounds familiar, it is because we last heard it a couple of weeks ago on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
26[T]he angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
At the time of the annunciation, Nazareth was an obscure little town of some 150 people. It is believed to derive its name from the Hebrew word neser which means “shoot.” Thus, Jesus comes from the shoot of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1).
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
The name Joseph means “may Yahweh add.”
of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
The name Mary means “excellence.”
28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Mary has been told that God is with her, and most importantly, she is full of grace. As far as she is concerned, she has done nothing spectacular which would warrant a visit from an angel with this sort of greeting. She is puzzled.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
Jesus, in Hebrew, is Yeshua (Joshua). It means “Yahweh saves.”
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary’s future son is described with language ordinarily reserved for God’s redeeming presence among His people: “Son of the Most High” (Genesis 14:19ff; Sirach 24:2), “everlasting king” (Genesis 21:33; Daniel 12:7; Psalm 24:7, 10; 97:1).
34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
The angel has said “you shall conceive” not “you have conceived,” it is future tense. Mary is espoused to Joseph. If a “normal” married life was planned, the question makes no sense. If she, on the other hand was a consecrated virgin, then “normal” marital relations were not planned and the question becomes reasonable. The Gospel of the Birth of Mary (not considered inspired, but possibly relating some historical information), says that Mary entered the Temple at the age of three and lived with other virgins in the apartments of the Temple until the age of fourteen. “At that time the high priest made a public order. That all the virgins who had public settlements in the temple, and were come to this age, should return home, and, as they were now of a proper maturity, should, according to the custom of their country, endeavor to be married. To which command, though all the other virgins readily yielded obedience, Mary the Virgin of the Lord alone answered she could not comply with it. Assigning these reasons, that both she and her parents had devoted her to the service of the Lord; and besides, that she had vowed virginity to the Lord, which vow she was resolved never to break through by lying with a man” (The Lost Books of the Bible, Bell Publishing Company, New York, 1979, page 21).
35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
This reminds us of how God showed Himself to the people in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) and the Jerusalem Temple (1 Kings 8:10).
Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
This provides a link with the annunciation story of Elizabeth which preceded this one (Luke 1:11-13) and also lays the groundwork for the story of the Visitation which is to follow (Luke 1:39-56).
37 for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary’s virginity reveals a new depth of meaning: complete trust and obedience before God. 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
This is a differential form of the word used in the Our Father: “Thy will be done.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
Introduction
Anticipation and preparedness are the watchwords for Advent. Anticipation of the celebration of the birth of our Lord some 2000 years ago and the festivities, gifts, parties and family get-togethers which accompany that celebration. Preparedness because we are reminded that Jesus will come at the end of the world (the parousia) and all will be judged – not just on whether they believed or not, but how they have lived out their belief. Are the end times near? No one knows but the Father. We must always be ready because our personal parousia can come at any time.
1st Reading - 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
The two books of Samuel were originally one book which forms a continuation of the deuteronomic history of God’s chosen people. The book is first dominated by Samuel, the last of the Judges, who struggles to keep Israel faithful to Yahweh under increasing pressure from the Philistines. Defeats and the loss of the ark of the covenant, symbol of Yahweh’s protection, show that Israel needs a new kind of leadership – a king. Samuel anoints the first two kings, Saul and his successor, David. Saul constructs the beginnings of a stable monarchy but incurs divine displeasure and ends his rule in fits of black despondency and murderous hatred of David.
In the second book, the book from which our reading today comes, David is installed as king of Judah, and later as king of Israel as well. The twelve tribes are reunited under one leader. The reunited Israel then enjoys its most glorious period for it is, briefly, a major power in the Near East. Most important, however, is that David is the model for all kingship in Israel. He is a forceful yet attractive character, very human in his failings but passionate and intimate in his devotion to Yahweh. To him and to his line is promised endless rule, the basis of all future hope for a Messiah. This is our reading for today.
7:1 When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
The peace which followed the victories over the Philistines had enabled David to arrange the bringing of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem where it resides in a tabernacle (tent). Nathan is the senior religious advisor of David’s court.
3 Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.” 4 But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: 5 “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
God equates His presence with the ark of the covenant. The ark is the sign of Yahweh’s covenant with His people and their protection against every coercive power. The ark was carried before the troops when they entered into battle.
8b It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. 10 I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, 11 since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
This house is not the promise of a building, but of a dynasty, the House of David.
12 And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
The assurance of divine favor is extended to the dynasty.
14a I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
This is covenant language, they will be part of God’s family. David didn’t build the Temple to house the ark of the covenant, his son Solomon is the one chosen by God for this task. This is not a rejection of David, but a glorification of him through his son – no parent feels rejected when their child accomplishes great things.
16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
This oracle is the earliest statement of the belief in the eternity of the dynasty of David, and is the root of the messianic expectation of the rule of David.
2nd Reading - Romans 16:25-27
Our second reading today is the final three verses of Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans. The letter was written to a congregation which had not been founded by Saint Paul, but was one which he anticipated visiting. The congregation is primarily composed of converted Jews and it is from the viewpoint of a former Pharisee that Saint Paul writes.
In our reading today, we find a new and different approach to the Jewish Scriptures:
the great mystery of God, gradually unveiled in the course of human history, is now fully understood in the light of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection.
25 Now to him who can strengthen you,
Saint Paul blesses God, who assures the gospel of Christ to human beings.
according to my gospel
This is the good news which Saint Paul makes known.
and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages 26 but now manifested through the prophetic writings
The Old Testament writings that bear on the mystery mentioned – such as our first reading.
“By saying this Paul is releasing the weak person from fear. For this secret was contained in the law. Indeed, it is what the law was all about. We cannot ask why it should be disclosed now, for to do this would be to call God to account. We ought not to behave like busybodies but instead be content with what we have been given.” [ Saint John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 391), Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 27]
and, according to the command of the eternal God,
Saint Paul may well be alluding to his commission as an apostle.
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
Saint Paul sees faith as a process that begins with hearing and ends with a personal commitment and submission. This is what we Catholics call “faith and works.” It is interesting that the first and last mention of “faith” in Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans is expressed in terms of “obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5 and 16:26).
27 to the only wise God,
“Do not think that Paul said this in disparagement of the Son. For if all the things whereby His wisdom was made apparent were done by Christ and nothing was done without Him, it is quite plain that the Son is equal to the Father in wisdom also. The word ‘only’ is used in order to contrast God with every created being.” [Saint John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 391), Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 27]
through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.
The climax of the doxology. Praise is paid to God the Father through the Son, Jesus the Christ.
Gospel - Luke 1:26-38
Saint Luke was a Syrian of Antioch. He was neither an apostle nor an eyewitness of Jesus’ earthly life. He wasn’t even a prominent figure in the apostolic Church. He was a physician and a companion or collaborator of Saint Paul. Although Saint Luke is believed to have derived his gospel (and the Acts of the Apostles) from Saint Paul, it bears little reflection of Saint Paul’s theology as reflected in his letters. This has led scholars to theorize that Saint Luke’s association with Saint Paul was early, before Saint Paul’s theology was fully developed, before Saint Paul engaged in serious letter writing, and before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). A more likely answer is that the gospel message is like a brilliant jewel, and each individual approaches that jewel by viewing a different facet. The Holy Spirit has guided each of the sacred writers as they wrote, writing in terms with which they were familiar, and ensuring that each writer taught no theological error, no matter in what style he wrote.
Only two gospels contain what are known as the infancy narratives of Jesus. Today we hear the story of the Annunciation from Saint Luke’s gospel. If it sounds familiar, it is because we last heard it a couple of weeks ago on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
26[T]he angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
At the time of the annunciation, Nazareth was an obscure little town of some 150 people. It is believed to derive its name from the Hebrew word neser which means “shoot.” Thus, Jesus comes from the shoot of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1).
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
The name Joseph means “may Yahweh add.”
of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
The name Mary means “excellence.”
28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Mary has been told that God is with her, and most importantly, she is full of grace. As far as she is concerned, she has done nothing spectacular which would warrant a visit from an angel with this sort of greeting. She is puzzled.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
Jesus, in Hebrew, is Yeshua (Joshua). It means “Yahweh saves.”
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary’s future son is described with language ordinarily reserved for God’s redeeming presence among His people: “Son of the Most High” (Genesis 14:19ff; Sirach 24:2), “everlasting king” (Genesis 21:33; Daniel 12:7; Psalm 24:7, 10; 97:1).
34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
The angel has said “you shall conceive” not “you have conceived,” it is future tense. Mary is espoused to Joseph. If a “normal” married life was planned, the question makes no sense. If she, on the other hand was a consecrated virgin, then “normal” marital relations were not planned and the question becomes reasonable. The Gospel of the Birth of Mary (not considered inspired, but possibly relating some historical information), says that Mary entered the Temple at the age of three and lived with other virgins in the apartments of the Temple until the age of fourteen. “At that time the high priest made a public order. That all the virgins who had public settlements in the temple, and were come to this age, should return home, and, as they were now of a proper maturity, should, according to the custom of their country, endeavor to be married. To which command, though all the other virgins readily yielded obedience, Mary the Virgin of the Lord alone answered she could not comply with it. Assigning these reasons, that both she and her parents had devoted her to the service of the Lord; and besides, that she had vowed virginity to the Lord, which vow she was resolved never to break through by lying with a man” (The Lost Books of the Bible, Bell Publishing Company, New York, 1979, page 21).
35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
This reminds us of how God showed Himself to the people in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) and the Jerusalem Temple (1 Kings 8:10).
Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
This provides a link with the annunciation story of Elizabeth which preceded this one (Luke 1:11-13) and also lays the groundwork for the story of the Visitation which is to follow (Luke 1:39-56).
37 for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary’s virginity reveals a new depth of meaning: complete trust and obedience before God. 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
This is a differential form of the word used in the Our Father: “Thy will be done.”
Then the angel departed from her.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church,
Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org
FOURTH SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, MARK 1:21-28
(Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, MARK 1:21-28
(Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35)
KEY VERSE: "What is this? A new teaching with authority." (v 27).
TO KNOW: The scholars of the Law held positions of authority because of their great learning, but Jesus taught on his own authority (Greek exousia, power that "came out of his very being"). The people were enthralled by the power of Jesus' words. They marveled that he taught as the ancient prophets did, not like the teachers with whom they were acquainted. While teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus healed a man possessed by an "unclean spirit" (v 23). Unlike the religious leaders, the demons knew that divine power was at work in Jesus, and they attempted to overpower him by invoking his name. Jesus was more powerful than the demons, and he rebuked them and commanded them to be silent. The crowds were astonished, and at the same time, they were perplexed as they did not yet understand Jesus' true identity. Still, Jesus' fame continued to spread throughout the region of Galilee.
TO LOVE: Do I help others understand Jesus' power over evil in their lives?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, heal me of anything that is out of order in my life.
Sunday 28
January 2018
Week IV Psalter. 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. [St Thomas
Aquinas].
Deuteronomy 18:15-20. Psalm 94(95):1-2, 6-9 1. Corinthians
7:32-35. Mark 1:21-28.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts—Psalm
94(95):1-2, 6-9 1.
The evil spirits recognise Jesus for who he truly is.
They recognise his ability to loosen the grip they have on the
possessed man and drive them out of him. Whether we believe in evil spirits or
not, we can all recognise things in our lives and even within us that are
obstacles to true freedom. We live in an addictive society which imprisons
people in their compulsions and appetites. The very things that promise to be
life-giving become sources of emptiness and death.
Often when confronted with the possibility of liberation from
our disordered affections we encounter resistance from within. The possibility
of freedom can be frightening as it means the challenge of letting go of
crutches and excuses for not living life fully. Nevertheless, like the
demoniac, we can recognise Jesus’ desire and power to free us from whatever
binds us.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint of the Day for January 28
(1225 – March 7, 1274)
Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Story
By universal consent, Thomas Aquinas is the preeminent spokesman
of the Catholic tradition of reason and of divine revelation. He is one of the
great teachers of the medieval Catholic Church, honored with the titles Doctor
of the Church and Angelic Doctor.
At five he was given to the Benedictine monastery at Monte
Cassino in his parents’ hopes that he would choose that way of life and
eventually became abbot. In 1239, he was sent to Naples to complete his
studies. It was here that he was first attracted to Aristotle’s philosophy.
By 1243, Thomas abandoned his family’s plans for him and joined
the Dominicans, much to his mother’s dismay. On her order, Thomas was captured
by his brother and kept at home for over a year.
Once free, he went to Paris and then to Cologne, where he
finished his studies with Albert the Great. He held two professorships at
Paris, lived at the court of Pope Urban IV, directed the Dominican schools at
Rome and Viterbo, combated adversaries of the mendicants, as well as the
Averroists, and argued with some Franciscans about Aristotelianism.
His greatest contribution to the Catholic Church is his
writings. The unity, harmony, and continuity of faith and reason, of revealed
and natural human knowledge, pervades his writings. One might expect Thomas, as
a man of the gospel, to be an ardent defender of revealed truth. But he was
broad enough, deep enough, to see the whole natural order as coming from God
the Creator, and to see reason as a divine gift to be highly cherished.
The Summa Theologiae, his last and, unfortunately,
uncompleted work, deals with the whole of Catholic theology. He stopped work on
it after celebrating Mass on December 6, 1273. When asked why he stopped
writing, he replied, “I cannot go on…. All that I have written seems to me like
so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me.”
He died March 7, 1274.
Reflection
We can look to Thomas Aquinas as a towering example of
Catholicism in the sense of broadness, universality, and inclusiveness. We
should be determined anew to exercise the divine gift of reason in us, our
power to know, learn, and understand. At the same time we should thank God for
the gift of his revelation, especially in Jesus Christ.
Saint Thomas Aquinas is the Patron Saint of:
Catholic Schools
Colleges
Schools
Students
Colleges
Schools
Students
LECTIO DIVINA: 4TH SUNDAY OF
ORDINARY TIME (B)
Lectio Divina:
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Jesus teaches and heals people
The first impression of the Good News of Jesus on the people
Mark 1:21-28
The first impression of the Good News of Jesus on the people
Mark 1:21-28
1. Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send Your Spirit to help us
to read the Scriptures with the same mind that You read them to the disciples
on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, You
helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of Your
sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope
became for them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to Your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May Your word guide us so that we, too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of Your resurrection and witness to others that You are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of You, Jesus, Who revealed to us the Father and sent us Your Spirit. Amen.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to Your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May Your word guide us so that we, too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of Your resurrection and witness to others that You are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of You, Jesus, Who revealed to us the Father and sent us Your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the reading:
The Gospel text of this fourth Sunday of
Ordinary Time speaks of the amazement of the people who see Jesus passing on
His teaching (Mk 1:21-22), then presents the first miracle of the casting out
of a devil (Mk 1:23-26) and finally speaks again of the amazement of the people
who hear the teaching of Jesus about His power to cast out devils (Mk
1:27-28).
In the 70’s, the time when Mark is writing, the community of Rome needed some guidance as to how to proclaim the Good News of God to people who lived under the oppression of the fear of evil spirits because of the arbitrary imposition of religious laws by the Roman Empire. In describing Jesus’ activity, Mark showed how the communities were to proclaim the Good News. The Evangelists catechized by telling the facts and events of Jesus’ life.
The text on which we are to meditate shows the impact of the Good News of Jesus on the people of His time. As we read, let us try to pay attention to the following: Which activities of Jesus most gave rise to the amazement of the people?
In the 70’s, the time when Mark is writing, the community of Rome needed some guidance as to how to proclaim the Good News of God to people who lived under the oppression of the fear of evil spirits because of the arbitrary imposition of religious laws by the Roman Empire. In describing Jesus’ activity, Mark showed how the communities were to proclaim the Good News. The Evangelists catechized by telling the facts and events of Jesus’ life.
The text on which we are to meditate shows the impact of the Good News of Jesus on the people of His time. As we read, let us try to pay attention to the following: Which activities of Jesus most gave rise to the amazement of the people?
b) A division of the text to help with
the reading:
Mark 1:21-22: The people, in
amazement at the teaching of Jesus, begin to develop a critical
awareness.
Mark 1:23-24: The reaction of a man possessed by the devil in the presence of Jesus in the Synagogue.
Mark 1:25-26: Jesus conquers and drives the devil away.
Mark 1:27-28: Again, the impact of the Good News of Jesus on the people.
Mark 1:23-24: The reaction of a man possessed by the devil in the presence of Jesus in the Synagogue.
Mark 1:25-26: Jesus conquers and drives the devil away.
Mark 1:27-28: Again, the impact of the Good News of Jesus on the people.
c) Text:
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.
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate
and enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) What part of the text did you like
best?
b) What caused most amazement on the part of the people in Jesus’ time?
c) What drove the people to see the difference between Jesus and the doctors of the time?
d) Devils have no power over Jesus. What impression does this make on the people?
e) Does the reality of our community produce amazement among people? How?
b) What caused most amazement on the part of the people in Jesus’ time?
c) What drove the people to see the difference between Jesus and the doctors of the time?
d) Devils have no power over Jesus. What impression does this make on the people?
e) Does the reality of our community produce amazement among people? How?
5. For those who wish to go deeper into
the theme
a) The context of the times and of
today:
This Sunday we meditate on the
description in Mark’s Gospel of the first miracle of Jesus. Not all the
Evangelists tell the facts of Jesus’ life in the same way. Each of them took
into account the communities for whom he was writing, each stressed some points
and aspects of the life, activities, and teachings of Jesus that could help
their readers more. Matthew’s readers lived in the north of Palestine and in
Syria, Luke’s lived in Greece, John’s in Asia Minor, and Mark’s probably in
Italy. A concrete example of this diversity is the way each of the four
represents Jesus’ first miracle. In John’s Gospel the first miracle is at the
wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus transforms the water into wine
(Jn 2:1-11). For Luke, the first miracle is the tranquility with which Jesus
frees himself from the threat of death on the part of the people of Nazareth
(Lk 4:29-30). For Matthew, it is the healing of a large number of sick and
possessed (Mt 4:23) or, more specifically, the healing of a leper (Mt 8:1-4). For
Mark, the first miracle is the casting out of a devil (Mk 1:23-26). Thus, each
Evangelist, in his own way of telling the facts, stresses what are, according
to him, the most important points in the activities and teachings of Jesus.
Each one of them has a concern that he tries to transmit to his readers and to
the communities. Today we live in a place and an era quite different from those
of Jesus and the Evangelists. What for us is the
greatest concern today in living out the Gospel? It is worthwhile that each of
us should ask him or herself, “What, for me is the
greatest concern?”
b) A commentary on the text:
Mark 1:21-22: Amazed at Jesus’
teaching, the people form a critical conscience in themselves.
The first thing that Jesus did at the beginning of His missionary activities was to call four people to form a community together with Him (Mk 1:16-20). The first thing the people see in Jesus is the different way He teaches and speaks of the Kingdom of God. It is not so much the content, but rather His way of teaching that is striking. The effect of this different way of teaching was the critical conscience formed in the people in relation to the religious authorities of the time. The people saw, compared, and said, “He teaches with authority, unlike the scribes.” The scribes taught the people by quoting from the doctors and the authorities. Jesus did not quote any doctor, but spoke from His experience of God and of life. His authority came from inside of Him. His word was rooted in the heart and in the witness of His life and his divinty.
The first thing that Jesus did at the beginning of His missionary activities was to call four people to form a community together with Him (Mk 1:16-20). The first thing the people see in Jesus is the different way He teaches and speaks of the Kingdom of God. It is not so much the content, but rather His way of teaching that is striking. The effect of this different way of teaching was the critical conscience formed in the people in relation to the religious authorities of the time. The people saw, compared, and said, “He teaches with authority, unlike the scribes.” The scribes taught the people by quoting from the doctors and the authorities. Jesus did not quote any doctor, but spoke from His experience of God and of life. His authority came from inside of Him. His word was rooted in the heart and in the witness of His life and his divinty.
Mark 1:23-26: Jesus fights the power
of evil
In Mark, the first miracle is the casting out of a devil. The power of evil took hold of people and alienated them from themselves. People were crushed by fear of devils and by the action of unclean spirits. Today, the fear of devils is great and on the increase. We see it in the interest in films on the exorcism of devils. As in the times of the Roman Empire, many people live alienated from themselves because of the power of mass communication, advertising and commerce. People are slaves to consumerism, oppressed by bills to pay by a certain date, and the threat of creditors. Many think that they are not worthy of respect if they do not buy what advertisements tell them to buy. In Mark, the first sign of Jesus is that of fighting evil. Jesus restores people to themselves. He restores their conscience and freedom. Could our faith in Jesus succeed in fighting these devils that alienate us from ourselves and from the reality of God?
In Mark, the first miracle is the casting out of a devil. The power of evil took hold of people and alienated them from themselves. People were crushed by fear of devils and by the action of unclean spirits. Today, the fear of devils is great and on the increase. We see it in the interest in films on the exorcism of devils. As in the times of the Roman Empire, many people live alienated from themselves because of the power of mass communication, advertising and commerce. People are slaves to consumerism, oppressed by bills to pay by a certain date, and the threat of creditors. Many think that they are not worthy of respect if they do not buy what advertisements tell them to buy. In Mark, the first sign of Jesus is that of fighting evil. Jesus restores people to themselves. He restores their conscience and freedom. Could our faith in Jesus succeed in fighting these devils that alienate us from ourselves and from the reality of God?
Mark 1:27-28: People’s reaction:
the first impression.
The first two signs of the Good News of God that people see in Jesus are: His different way of teaching the things of God and His power over unclean spirits. Jesus opens a new way of purity for people. In those days anyone declared impure could not come before God to pray or receive the blessing of God promised to Abraham. He had to purify himself first. There were many laws concerning the purification of people and ritual norms that made life difficult for people. These marginalized many people who were considered impure. For instance, washing one’s arm to the elbow, sprinkling oneself, washing metal glasses, cups, jars, etc. (cf. Mk 7:1-5). Now, purified by faith in Jesus, the impure could once more prostrate themselves in the presence of God and no longer needed to observe the ritual norms. The Good News of the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus must have been a relief for people and a cause of great joy and tranquility.
The first two signs of the Good News of God that people see in Jesus are: His different way of teaching the things of God and His power over unclean spirits. Jesus opens a new way of purity for people. In those days anyone declared impure could not come before God to pray or receive the blessing of God promised to Abraham. He had to purify himself first. There were many laws concerning the purification of people and ritual norms that made life difficult for people. These marginalized many people who were considered impure. For instance, washing one’s arm to the elbow, sprinkling oneself, washing metal glasses, cups, jars, etc. (cf. Mk 7:1-5). Now, purified by faith in Jesus, the impure could once more prostrate themselves in the presence of God and no longer needed to observe the ritual norms. The Good News of the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus must have been a relief for people and a cause of great joy and tranquility.
Further information: casting out devils
and the fear of people
* The explanation of the evils of life
In Jesus’ days, many people spoke of
Satan and the casting out of devils. There was much fear and some took
advantage of this fear in others. The power of evil had many names: demon, devil,
Beelzebub, prince of devils, Satan, Dragon, Dominations, Powers, Authority,
Sovereignty, etc. (cf. Mk 3:22-23; Mt 4:1; Rev 12:9; Rom 8:38; Eph 1:21).
Today, when people cannot explain a
phenomenon, problem, or pain, they sometimes take recourse in explanations and
remedies from tradition or ancient cultures and they say, “ It is the evil eye,
it is the punishment of God, it is some evil spirit.” There are those who seek
to silence these devils through magic and loud prayers. Others seek an exorcist
to cast out the impure spirit. Others still, urged by the new and sadistic
culture of today, fight the power of evil in other ways. They seek to
understand the cause of evil.
In Jesus’ day, the manner of explaining
and solving the evils in life was similar to the explanations given by our
ancient traditions and culture. In those days, as we read in the Bible, the
word devil or Satan often pointed to the power of evil that led people astray
from the right path. For instance, during the forty days in the desert, Jesus
was tempted by Satan who tried to lead Him by a different path (1:12; cf. Lk
4:1-13). On other occasions, the same word pointed to a person who led another
by a wrong path. Thus, when Peter sought to divert Jesus’ path, he was Satan for
Jesus: “Get behind Me Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but
man’s.” (Mk 8:33). At other times, these same words were used to indicate the
political power of the Roman Empire that oppressed and exploited people. For
instance, in the Apocalypse, the Roman Empire is identified with “the great
dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had deceived the
whole world” (Rev 12:9). In Mark’s Gospel, this same Roman Empire is given the
name of Legion, a name given to the devil who ill-treated people
(Mk 5:9). At other times, the people used the words devil or spirit to indicate
aches and pains. Thus people talked about the devil of the dumb spirit (Mk
9:17), of the deaf spirit (Mk 9:25), the devil of the impure spirit (Mk 1:23;
3:11), etc. And there were exorcists who cast out these devils (cf. Mk 9:38; Mt
12:27).
All this shows the great fear people had
of the power of evil, which they called devil or Satan. When Mark was writing
his Gospel, this fear was on the increase. Some Eastern religions were
spreading the cult of spirits, who acted as intermediaries between God and
humanity, considered as devils, demiurges or demigods. These cults taught that
some of our gestures could irritate the spirits, and they, to wreak vengeance,
could prevent our access to God, and thus deprive us of divine benefits. So,
through magic rites, loud prayers and complicated ceremonies, people tried to
invoke and calm these spirits or demons, so that they would not bring harm to
human life. This was the form that some religions had devised in order to
defend themselves from the influence of the spirits of evil. And this way of
living one’s relationship with God, rather than freeing people, bred in them
fear and anxiety.
* Faith in the resurrection and the
victory over fear
Now, one of the objectives of the Good
News of Jesus was to help people free themselves of this fear. The coming of
the Kingdom of God meant the coming of a superior power.
Mark’s Gospel says, “But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and take
his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he rob
his house.” (Mk 3:27). The strong man is a figure of the power of evil that
keeps people chained to fear. Jesus is the stronger man who
comes to chain Satan, the power of evil, and to snatch from him this humanity
chained to fear. “If it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils,
then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you!” (Lk 11:20) This is what
the writings of the New Testament insist on, especially the Gospel of Mark: the
victory of Jesus over the power of evil, over the demon, over Satan, over sin
and death.
As we have seen, in this Sunday’s
reading in Mark’s Gospel, the first miracle of Jesus is that of the casting out
the devil: “Be quiet! Come out of him!” (Mk 1:25). The first impression Jesus
makes on the people is produced by the casting out of the devils: “He gives
orders even to unclean spirits and they obey Him!” (Mk 1:27). One of the main
reasons for the discussion between Jesus and the scribes is the casting out of
devils. They accused Him saying: “Beelzebub is in Him…It is through the prince
of devils that He casts devils out!” (Mk 3:22). The first power given to the
apostles when they were sent on a mission was the power to cast out devils: “…giving
them the authority over unclean spirits” (Mk 6:7). The first sign that goes
with the proclamation of the resurrection is that of casting out devils: “These
are the signs that will be associated with believers: in My name they will cast
out devils” (Mk 16:17).
The casting out of devils was what
impressed people most (Mk 1:27). It went to the very heart of the Good News of
the Kingdom. By means of it, Jesus restored people to themselves. He gave them
back common sense and a conscience (Mk 5:15). From beginning to end, in almost
the same words, the Gospel of Mark repeats unceasingly the same message: “Jesus
casts out devils!” (Mk 1:26.34,39; 3:11-12,30; 5:1-20; 6:7,13; 7:25-29;
9:25-27,38; 16:17). It seems to be an endless refrain. Today, however, rather
than use the same words all the time, we use different words
to send out the same message. We would say, “Jesus conquered,
chained, dominated, destroyed, beat, eliminated, exterminated annihilated and
killed the power of evil, Satan who frightens so many people!” What Mark wants
to say to us is this: “Christians are not allowed to be afraid of Satan!” By
His resurrection and by His liberating action present among us, Jesus chains
the fear of Satan and gives birth to freedom of heart, determination, and hope
on the horizon! We must walk along the Path of Jesus with the
taste of victory over the power of evil!
6. A prayer with Psalm 46 (45)
God, revealed in Jesus, is our strength!
God is both refuge and strength for
us,
a help always ready in trouble;
so we shall not be afraid though the earth be in turmoil,
though mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,
and its waters roar and seethe,
and the mountains totter as it heaves.
a help always ready in trouble;
so we shall not be afraid though the earth be in turmoil,
though mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,
and its waters roar and seethe,
and the mountains totter as it heaves.
There is a river whose streams bring joy
to God's city;
it sanctifies the dwelling of the Most High.
God is in the city, it cannot fall;
at break of day God comes to its rescue.
Nations are in uproar,
kingdoms are tumbling,
when He raises His voice the earth crumbles away.
it sanctifies the dwelling of the Most High.
God is in the city, it cannot fall;
at break of day God comes to its rescue.
Nations are in uproar,
kingdoms are tumbling,
when He raises His voice the earth crumbles away.
Yahweh Sabaoth is with us,
our citadel, the God of Jacob.
Come, consider the wonders of Yahweh,
the astounding deeds He has done on the earth;
He puts an end to wars over the whole wide world,
He breaks the bow, He snaps the spear,
shields He burns in the fire.
our citadel, the God of Jacob.
Come, consider the wonders of Yahweh,
the astounding deeds He has done on the earth;
He puts an end to wars over the whole wide world,
He breaks the bow, He snaps the spear,
shields He burns in the fire.
“Be still and acknowledge that I am
God,
supreme over nations, supreme over the world.”
Yahweh Sabaoth is with us,
our citadel, the God of Jacob.
supreme over nations, supreme over the world.”
Yahweh Sabaoth is with us,
our citadel, the God of Jacob.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for the word
that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May Your
Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice that which
Your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, Your mother, not only listen
to but also practice the Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the
unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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