February 1, 2015 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 71

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;

A prophet like me - that's a reference to Jesus Christ.  The similarities between Moses and Jesus are astonishing.

Both are Hebrew and were hidden from an evil despot who sought to kill them.  Many children were martyred in their name.  Both used water in their miracles.  Both established a Passover.  Both established new religions.  Both established laws.  Both produced miracles.  Etc.

to him you shall listen.

Although, many did not.  Many did.  And they became the foundation of the Catholic Church.

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.

God always answers our prayers, one way or another.

Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name,
I myself will make him answer for it.

This is important.  It is repeated in the New Testament.

Hebrews 5:9 and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 

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.’”

This is a mystery.  Because Jesus did die upon the Cross.  But He took up His life again as the first fruits of our redemption.  So, the death spoken of here, is a spiritual death.  

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.

When the Israelites walked in the desert, many of them fell away.  This is a sign to us.  The Isralites were the chosen people of God.  His Elect.  But they grumbled and were punished:

1 Corinthians 10: 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert.  6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did.

 We aren't assured of salvation because we are God's elect.  Yes, we are God's elect.  So make your election sure:

2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble.

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.

Do you see the rationale for the Celibacy of the Priesthood?  A man who has no wife can concentrate upon the Lord.  Every married man knows the truth of this teaching.  And this confirms the wisdom of the Church for insisting that Priests of God most high should be celibate.

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.

This is a reference to the Jews, who, when Jesus was born were oppressed by the Romans.  And to the Gentiles, who were drawn to the light of Jesus Christ's teachings and came into the Church.

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.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

The people of Capernaum had never seen the like.  Jesus Christ commanded even the demons.