Tuesday, January 14, 2020

What Is This?

Today we get to see how Jesus deals with those voices in our heads that try to mess with our faith, or our self-worth, or our identity in Christ. These annoying voices sound like doubt in God’s goodness, worship of people and possessions, self-hate, victimhood, blame, shame, you’re not good enough, God doesn’t hear you, etc. They can occupy much landscape in our minds and Jesus simply uses His authority to say, “Quiet! Come out!” I remember when my brother and I were kids and if we happened to be messing around in Church, my dad had one distinct, commanding, oh crap we know we are in big trouble clearing of his voice, that literally would stop us cold from doing whatever it was that we are doing. If we heard that particular sounding voice clearing, we stopped immediately. It came from his authority and we knew that consequences were looming if we did not bend to it. Jesus not only taught “as one having authority”, but He commands anything that is messing with God’s perfect plan of love and mercy to stop immediately. The sound of His voice calms the storm, beckons His sheep, and drives out the silly annoying unclean spirits. He has imparted His voice to US through His Holy Spirit at Pentecost and so now we have that same authority to command those silly voices to be quiet (in the Name of Jesus). Today we see that head knowledge is important and the teachings of Christ are astonishing, but the living it out is what drives away the darkness. So let’s clear our voices with the authority that Jesus gives us and let’s start speaking to those thoughts that constantly mess with us. This sounds like encouragement, kind words, saying no to lies, speaking Scripture when human words don’t measure up, declaring who you are in Christ, loving the unlovable, and praising God in the middle of the storm. When we start living this, people will be amazed and ask, “What is this? A new teaching with authority.” It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 1 SM 1:9-20

Hannah rose after a meal at Shiloh,
and presented herself before the LORD;
at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair
near the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.
In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously,
and she made a vow, promising: “O LORD of hosts,
if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid,
if you remember me and do not forget me,
if you give your handmaid a male child,
I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives;
neither wine nor liquor shall he drink,
and no razor shall ever touch his head.”
As she remained long at prayer before the LORD,
Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently;
though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard.
Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her,
“How long will you make a drunken show of yourself?
Sober up from your wine!”
“It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered.
“I am an unhappy woman.
I have had neither wine nor liquor;
I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD.
Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well;
my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.”
Eli said, “Go in peace,
and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left.
She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband,
and no longer appeared downcast.
Early the next morning they worshiped before the LORD,
and then returned to their home in Ramah.
When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah,
the LORD remembered her.
She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son
whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.

Responsorial Psalm 1 SAMUEL 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8ABCD

R.    (see 1) My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R.    My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R.    My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R.    My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R.    My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Alleluia 1 THES 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,
and on the sabbath he 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.

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