A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 4, n. 10)
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – January 29, 2006
“I Will Raise Up a Prophet”
BIBLE READINGS
Dt 18:15-20 // I Cor 7:32-35 // Mk 1:21-28
N.B. This new series of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY presents a biblico-liturgical study of the Old Testament reading of each Sunday Mass to serve as background for a better understanding of the Gospel proclaimed in the liturgy. For a biblico-liturgical study of the Gospel for each Sunday, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US.
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
This Sunday’s liturgy of the Word continues to depict the early phase of the public ministry of Jesus - God’s “Good News” in person. Today’s Gospel passage portrays him in the synagogue at Capernaum on a Sabbath, speaking the saving word of God and teaching with authority. The evangelist Mark describes the impact of Jesus’ teaching-prophetic ministry on the worshipping assembly: “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mk 1:22). Indeed, Jesus spoke with authority as he truthfully and faithfully revealed God’s message to the people. Moreover, he reinforced the power of God’s saving word by performing a healing sign – by curing a man possessed by an unclean spirit. According to the Benedictine scholar, Adrian Nocent: “Both word and action highlight the authority – that is the point St. Mark wants to make. Jesus is manifesting himself as Messiah, and his teaching differs from that of others not only by its content but by the fact that it is linked to an effective power from on high. His teaching thus manifests his person and the fact that he has been sent from God.”
When seen in light of the Old Testament reading (Dt 18:15-20), this Sunday’s Gospel episode of Jesus teaching at a synagogue in Capernaum reinforces the truth that Jesus is the fulfillment of the eschatological prophetic figure promised by Yahweh to Israel and, eventually, to all peoples: “I will raise up for them a prophet” (Dt 18:18).
Adrian Nocent comments on the Deuteronomy passage: “Moses offers himself as the model by which the Israelites will be able to identify the prophet who is to come and whom God will raise up for us. Moses reminds the people at Horeb they had bidden him ask the Lord to appoint someone to serve as intermediary between them and the Lord, and that the Lord had promised a prophet. Moses himself had served as the first intermediary, the first in the line of prophets, who are men chosen from among their brethren. God, not the people, does the choosing of each and every prophet … What is the role of the chosen prophet? I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak all that I command him (Dt. 18:18). This means that God looks upon the prophet as another self. Men must therefore heed his words; not to listen to him is to refuse God, and God will demand an accounting of this refusal. The prophet must speak exactly what is entrusted to him; otherwise he will betray his mission … Jesus, for his part, acts like a prophet, that is, a man who speaks in behalf of God … If he speaks as he does, it is in order that men may believe that the Father has sent him. Eternal life consists in believing in the one who has been sent, for in the last analysis he who sends and he who is sent are one … Jesus clearly thinks of himself as doing what is expected of the great prophet whom God had promised to raise up from among his brethren. Consequently, the reading from Deuteronomy does much to bring home the full significance of the Gospel pericope from St. Mark.”
Immersed into the life of Jesus Prophet, who hears God speak and announces faithfully and truthfully his word to the assembly, the Christian disciples are likewise called to be prophets of truth. The Church – the community of believers – carries on the prophetic-teaching function of Christ in today’s world. In order to carry out dutifully and lovingly this challenging and exigent ministry, we – as docile disciples of Jesus Way, Truth and Life - need to turn to him and listen to his life-giving word of truth.
Cardinal John Henry Newman concludes: “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. In him God is fully and truly seen, so that he is absolutely the way, and the truth and the life. All our duties are summed up for us in the message he brings … Christ has brought from his Father for all of us the full and perfect way of life. Thus he brings grace as well as truth, a most surprising miracle of mercy.”
PERSONAL REFLECTION
By Bong Tiotuico APC-fdm
(Member: ASSOCIATION OF PAULINE COOPERATORS – Friends of the Divine Master, Antipolo Unit, Philippines)
In the literary field, readers usually speculate and try to read the mind of a great author. This is true even more so when interpreting poetry. Avid followers debate with passion, citing previous works and quoting from experts who have devoted careers to analyzing the author’s work. And then in a stroke of good fortune, they invite the author himself in person. Then everything is settled. The controversies and speculations are put to rest once and for all by the singular authority of the source. This explains to me the astonishment of the listeners of Jesus as he preached in the synagogue at Capernaum where he taught with authority “as compared to the scribes”. Jesus’ coming is God’s way of sending the author to speak directly.
However, can we ask ourselves if we are still astonished and amazed by Jesus’ teachings? Do we still recognize the majesty and authority of the gospels? What about the magisterial authority Jesus gave the Church to interpret and spread the Good News to the world? As Christians we are tempted to accept and recognize the word of God only when it suits us. When it fits our easy lifestyle. When it is convenient. But when the teaching is “hard” – when it hits us where we are most vulnerable like when Jesus talks about loving one’s neighbor, about justice, about giving, about forgiveness and sacrifice – it disrupts our worldview. It disturbs us from our “comfort zones”. Then we turn away from the divine authority of the gospels and call them irrelevant to the times.
The crowd is amazed at the ability of Jesus to command an unclean spirit to depart from one person’s body. Jesus performs the ritual of exorcism a few times in the gospel of Mark. The Church has received this power and office from him. Our faith teaches us that in its simple form exorcism is performed at the celebration of baptism. However, only a priest with the permission of his bishop can perform the solemn exorcism, called a “major exorcism”. The priest must proceed with prudence strictly observing the rules established by the Church. This rite is directed at the expulsion of demons or the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church. Illness, especially psychological illness is a very different matter; its treatment is a concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the evil one and not an illness.
Exorcisms may not be commonplace in the 21st century, but as we ponder through our every day lives, we carry with us certain mindsets and behaviors we call our “personal demons”. While they may not fall under the category of psychological illness, we need to “exorcise” them too because they bring long term harm to our health, to our relationships with others, to our careers/vocations and even draw us farther away from God’s kingdom. These are big words we often hear at Sunday homilies, but never had a chance to reflect on, like: covetousness, envy, vice, selfishness, despair, anger, hatred, impulsiveness, depression, cynicism, loneliness, blind ambition, instant gratification, indifference, conflict, violence, bigotry and others. They represent a cabal of “demons and unclean spirits” that we live with, while surviving a very competitive and materialistic world.
What specifically are these unclean spirits that take over our lives? How about that habitual and uncontrollable drinking binge you have, my friend? Often in secret. It is occasional drinking, you say, but lately, the drinking bouts have become the occasions by themselves. But have you checked your liver lately? Your kidneys? How does this habit affect your relationship with your spouse? Your children? With your employer? It is frightening when you say the best cure for a hangover is to stay drunk. And you are only half-joking.
Then there is the neighbor of yours who always greets and smiles at you in the morning when you leave for work. He seems to have all the better stuff: a new Volvo, a bigger house with better furnishings, and even a bigger wider-screen TV. His spouse is prettier than your own battleaxe of a wife. Have you ever asked why he irritates you so much?
People have noticed that your watching that new plasma 54-inch screen flat TV set is taking up most of your outside-of-work waking hours. You have no more time to talk to anyone in your family anymore except on matters raised in the latest issue of TV Guide. Household chores remain undone, creating resentment from the other members of your household. Your TV/living room is starting to smell like it is ready for an inspection by the local EPA.
We must pray to our Lord through the intercession of our Blessed Mother to help us cast out these “evil spirits” from our lives. We can start by being attentive to the reading of the word of God during the Mass and supplement it by private study. This will make the gospels more instructive in our lives. It will not be easy, as these “unclean” spirits will be convulsing and screaming as we attempt to get rid of them. Also with the help of people around us: our loved ones, close friends who care, co-workers, members of our congregation, and if necessary, professional help – we can certainly succeed. Then we create room for the Holy Spirit to occupy our lives and produce within us, as St. Paul tells us in Gal 5:22, his gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control: big words we also hear during Sundays, but sadly more and more alien to us these days. Amen.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. Why is Jesus Christ the true and the greatest prophet of God? As God’s obedient and truthful prophet, what does he communicate to us personally and as a community of believers?
B. How do we share in Christ’s prophetic ministry? How do we make the voice of truth resound in the world today? In imitation of Christ, are we ready to support our prophetic proclamation with prophetic action?
C. Are we ready to embrace the challenges and sacrifices of a prophet? Are we ready to help those who are exercising the prophetic ministry in a situation of conflict and extreme duress?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(“Lord, I Want To Live a Truthful Life” by Henri Nouwen)
Leader: Lord, you are the Truth. When I keep myself rooted in you, I will live in the Truth. Help me, Lord, to live a truthful life, a life in which I am guided not by popularity, public opinion, current fashion, or convenient formulations but by a knowledge that comes from knowing you. There may be times when holding onto the Truth is hard and painful, and leads to oppression, persecution, and death. Be with me, Lord, if that time ever comes. Let me then experience that to hold onto the Truth means to hold onto you, that Love and Truth can never be separated, and that to live truthfully is the same as being faithful to a loving relationship. Lord, bring me always closer to you who are my teacher, always teaching me out of love.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“I will raise up for them a prophet … I will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him.” (Dt 18:18)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: Pray that Christian disciples may live out to the full their mission and ministry to be prophets of truth in the world today. Pray that the mass media be rightly used to proclaim the truth and not to distort the truth. Assist those who suffer persecution and sacrifice in order to promote the truth about God. Endeavor to bring his justice and healing love to a painful personal predicament and/or an unjust social situation?
B. ACTION PLAN: To celebrate the gift prophecy and in order to give homage to Jesus, the truthful and faithful Prophet of God, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 10): A Weekly Pastoral Tool.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US