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Message of the Day
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Lord, You’re full, and You fill us with Your kindness, too. You’re great, and we’re small.
Tell us, how are we to become like you, then? - Mechthild of Magdeburg, The Flowing Light of the Godhead
(Listen for the Spirit's response.)
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Readings of the Day
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Hebrews 2:5-12; Psalm 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9 Mark 1:21-28 Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us,
Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere,
through all the surrounding Galilean countryside. USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“Have You come to destroy?” —Mark 1:24
The Church has now entered the season of Ordinary Time. A more precise meaning would be “Ordered Time,” for this
season of the Church Year is marked by godly order as opposed to ordinary, mundane activity. Today’s Gospel shows the impact of God’s order coming into a situation. A man in the synagogue is possessed by a demon (Mk 1:23). His life is disordered rather than ordered under the freedom of the children of God. Jesus casts out the demon and sets this man free. This is no “ordinary” worship service! This man’s life is now under the order of God instead of the possession of
Satan.
The demons ask Jesus: “Have You come to destroy us?” (Mk 1:24) The answer is a resounding “Yes!” “It was to destroy the devil’s works that the Son of God revealed Himself” (1 Jn 3:8). Jesus came to destroy the godless secular culture, sin, death, fear, injustice, hatred, the kingdom of darkness, and all that opposes the reign of God in this world. Jesus destroys so that the foundation site can be cleared to build what will last.
Jesus is a Carpenter (see Mt 13:55), and He knows that a house cannot be built on a disordered foundation (see Mt 7:24-27). In this season of Ordinary Time, cooperate with Jesus as He destroys and builds. Clear out of your life whatever is opposed to God’s order. Allow Jesus to destroy whatever He wishes. Be still, and know that He is God (see Ps 46:10, RSV-CE). Prayer: Father,
thank You for loving me so much that You send a “Master-Builder” (1 Cor 3:10) to remodel my life. Do in me whatever You must in order to do through me whatever You will. Promise: “A completely new teaching in a spirit of authority! He gives orders to unclean spirits and they obey!” —Mk 1:27 Presentation Ministries
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Spiritual Reading
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The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life, by Brother Lawrence (1611 - 1691). Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
https://ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice/practice Fourth Conversation
The manner of going to God. * Hearty renunciation. * Prayer and praise prevent discouragement. * Sanctification in common business. * Prayer and the presence of God. * The whole substance of religion. * Self-estimation *
Further personal experience. He discoursed with me very frequently, and with great openness of heart, concerning his manner of going to GOD, whereof some part is related already. He told me, that all consists in one hearty renunciation of everything which we are sensible does not lead to GOD; that we might accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him, with
freedom and in simplicity. That we need only to recognize GOD intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done.
That in this conversation with GOD, we are also employed in praising, adoring, and loving him
incessantly, for His infinite goodness and perfection.
That, without being discouraged on account of our sins, we should pray for His grace with a perfect confidence, as relying upon the infinite merits of our LORD. That GOD never failed offering us His grace at each action; that he distinctly perceived it, and never failed of it, unless when his thoughts had wandered from a sense of GOD’s Presence, or he had forgot to ask His
assistance.
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