Come Let Us Worship the Lord: Homily for 4th Sunday Ordinary Time

Dt 18:15-20

Ps 95

1 Cor 7:32-35

Mk 1:21-28

 

"A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen." 

 

The short reading from Deuteronomy establishes the role of the prophet. Christianity came to understand these verses as promising a single prophet to come at the end of time, a Messiah, the Messiah, Our Lord Jesus.  For this reason we hear Philip refer to these verses when he tells Nathaniel, "We have found him of whom Moses spoke in the law, Jesus of Nazareth . . . "  Acts of the Apostles quotes this passage from Deuteronomy directly in referring to Jesus.  It is an important reading that ends with God giving two harsh warnings.  The first warning is to the people: Whoever will not listen to my word which the prophet speaks in my name will answer to Me for it.  The second to the prophet:  If a prophet presumes to speak in my name a prophecy that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.  

 

The short second reading is fascinating. It frequently comes up in discussions of vowed chastity for both male and female religious as well as in discussions of celibacy for secular priests. One is more available for the things of God if not also preoccupied with concerns for a family and all that goes with being a spouse and a parent.  Paul is not suggesting that vowed chastity or celibacy is a superior state; far from it.  However, he is pointing out the differences between the two states of life and the individual's availability.   The last verse is significant. There is clearly no question of trying to deceive anyone by encouraging him or her to enter into a way of life for which he or she is unsuited.  This is true not only for the life of the spirit but also for the life of the mind of the person as a whole.  Entering a profession because one is being forced by the expectations of parents, friends or social pressures, choosing a way of life because it is perceived as prestigious or highly remunerative is a bad idea that may result in profound unhappiness or, in worst case scenarios, lead to disaster. 

 

As the Gospel of Mark is proclaimed throughout this coming liturgical year, we will hear the words, amazed, astonished, astounded, frightened, awed, and other synonyms around 35 times.  Astonishment is the frequent reaction to Jesus' teaching.  Part of the astonishment was driven by the sense that He was teaching with authority rather than in the manner of the scribes. This particular Gospel comes at the very beginning of Jesus public ministry. It is difficult to know exactly what  Mark meant  when he described that Jesus taught "not as the scribes."  However, this marks the beginning of the scribes' opposition to Jesus, an opposition that proved lethal.  

 

The scribes were not necessarily a homogeneous group. Rather they fulfilled multiple functions, mostly in government and in the synagogue, as teachers, interpreters of scripture, and even as lawyers.  Today we might call them bureaucrats.  They quickly became enemies of Jesus, perhaps because he taught in a way that was not theirs with an authority given Him by the Father or perhaps because they saw him as a threat to their own power and authority.  One commentator notes that the scribes' opposition to Jesus was far greater and much more dangerous--the commentator described it as "more fatal"-- than that of the Pharisees.  In the end It was the Jerusalem scribes, along with the elders and high priests, who were the chief instigators of Jesus trial.  What exactly did the people recognize in Jesus' teaching that was absent from the teaching of the scribes? 

 

After Jesus cast out the unclean spirit we hear again that all were amazed.  Imagine the murmuring of those who witnessed this casting out.  Imagine the murmuring of those to whom it was reported.  "What is this?"  "What is going on?" "Who is this man?"  "He even has authority over unclean spirits!"  One can imagine how quickly the word spread throughout the region. 

 

Jesus taught with authority.  He cast out evil spirits with authority. That same teaching, that same authority guides us today if we allow it to.  We can only respond to that authority by heeding the words of the psalmist:

 

"Come let us sing to the Lord 

and shout with joy to the rock who saves us 

Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving

and sing joyful songs to the Lord."

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The chandelier in the Sanctuary of Loyola.  The light was perfect.  I enhanced it with some manipulation on the computer.  I need to use my passport agaian soon although at the moment I would settle for getting two states away from Boston. 

 + Fr. Jack, SJ, MD