Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections

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Sunday ReadingsCommentary and Reflections

• 4th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B
• February 1, 2015
• In preparation for this Sundays liturgy
• As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM
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1st Reading Deut 18,15-20

• Moses spoke to all the people, saying, 15 "A
  prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up
  for you from among your own kinsmen to him you
  shall listen. 16 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.' 17
  And the LORD said to me, 'This was well said. 18
  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from
  among their kinsmen, and will put my words into
  his mouth he shall tell them all that I command
  him. 19 If any man will not listen to my words
  which he speaks in my name, I myself will make
  him answer for it. 20 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.'

The focus is on the nature of a prophet.
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1st Reading Deut 18,15-20
The text is re-indented for easier understanding.

• Announcement of Moses
• Moses spoke to all the people, saying,15 "A
  prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up
  for you from among your own kinsmen to him you
  shall listen.
• Background
• 16 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.'
• 17 And the LORD said to me, 'This was well said.
  18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you
  from among their kinsmen,
• and will put my words into his mouth he shall
  tell them all that I command him.
• 19 If any man will not listen to my words which
  he speaks in my name, I myself will make him
  answer for it.
• Warning to a false prophet
• 20 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.'

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1st Reading Deut 18,15-20

• Commentary
• In v.15, Moses announces that God will raise up a
  prophet, like him.
• V.16 explains the reason why it is the peoples
  request, they are afraid to hear Gods voice and
  see a fire (Gods manifestation) for fear of
  death (they are overwhelmed)
• V.17 is the response of God He promises to raise
  a prophet.
• V.18 defines what a prophet is the speaker of
  God, he will obediently speak on his behalf, not
  necessarily someone who predicts the future.
• V.19 is a warning to those who do not listen to
  the prophet.

• Announcement
• 15 "A prophet like me will the LORD, your God,
  raise up for you from among your own kinsmen to
  him you shall listen.
• Background
• 16 This is exactly what you requested of the
  LORD, your God, at Horeb (Mt. Sinai) 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.'
• 17 And the LORD said to me, 'This was well said.
  18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you
  from among their kinsmen,
• and will put my words into his mouth he shall
  tell them all that I command him.
• 19 If any man will not listen to my words which
  he speaks in my name, I myself will make him
  answer for it.

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1st Reading Deut 18,15-20

• Warning to a prophet
• 20 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.'

• V.20 is, likewise, a warning, but to the prophet
  himself. He will be punished if he does not speak
  on behalf of God (if he misrepresents God ,or, if
  he speaks of other gods).

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Reflections on the first reading

• The prophet is someone, who is called to speak on
  Gods behalf.
• The prophet can be your friend, your priest, your
  group, and your church.
• If we think we are called to be prophets of our
  times, we must make sure we are representing God.
  
• We must know the Gods will.

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Resp. Ps 951-2, 6-7, 7-9

• R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not
  your hearts.1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the
  LORDlet us acclaim the rock of our salvation.2
  Let us come into his presence with
  thanksgivinglet us joyfully sing psalms to
  him.
• 6 Come, let us bow down in worshiplet us kneel
  before the LORD who made us.7For he is our
  God,and we are the people he shepherds, the
  flock he guides.
• 7 Oh, that today you would hear his voice8
  "Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,as in the
  day of Massah in the desert,9 Where your fathers
  tempted methey tested me though they had seen
  my works."

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Resp. Ps 951-2, 6-7, 7-9

• Commentary
• The psalm is classified as Royal Psalm of Yahweh
  King.
• Vv.1-2 invite worshippers to praise God with the
  formulation, Come, let us
• V.6 continues the invitation to worship God (let
  us bow down, let us kneel)
• V.7 states the reasons why
• He is our God.
• He shepherds his people / flock.
• Vv.7-9 present the challenge of God to the
  worshippers.
• Hear his voice. V.7
• Harden not your hearts. V.8
• Dont test God. V.9

• R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not
  your hearts.1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the
  LORDlet us acclaim the rock of our salvation.2
  Let us come into his presence with
  thanksgivinglet us joyfully sing psalms to
  him.
• 6 Come, let us bow down in worshiplet us kneel
  before the LORD who made us.7For he is our
  God,and we are the people he shepherds, the
  flock he guides.
• 7 Oh, that today you would hear his voice8
  "Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,as in the
  day of Massah in the desert,9 Where your fathers
  tempted methey tested me though they had seen
  my works."

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Reflections on the Psalm

• We, Christians, are enjoined to worship God,
  singing joyful songs on bended knees.
• We have a thousand reasons for doing so.
• But when we approach God, we must be disposed to
  listen to his voice.
• We do not come to him justifying ourselves, by
  hardening our hearts.
• Otherwise, no conversion is possible.

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2nd Reading 1 Cor 7,32-35

• 32 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. 33 But a
  married man is anxious about the things of the
  world, how he may please his wife, 34 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. 35 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.

The focus is on celibacy.
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2nd Reading 1 Cor 7,32-35
A Simple Outline!

• Paul argues for celibacy
• 32 I should like you to be free of anxieties.
• Contrast between an unmarried and a married man
• An unmarried man is anxious about the things of
  the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But a
  married man is anxious about the things of the
  world, how he may please his wife, 34 and he is
  divided.
• Contrast between an unmarried and a married woman
• 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.
• Paul argues for celibacy again
• 35 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.

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2nd Reading 1 Cor 7,32-35

• Commentary
• Paul is sold out to the idea of celibacy.
• He wants celibacy for practical purposes. He
  cites the advantages of a celibate life
• Free of anxieties (v.32)
• Anxious about things of the Lord (vv.32 and 34)
• Propriety and adherence to the Lord without
  distraction (v.35).
• Paul is thinking of a whole hearted and undivided
  service to the Lord and the community.
• That service is his work in the mission, which
  demands full time, prolonged absence from family,
  etc.
• Celibacy here was not yet imposed by the Church.
• Careful We must not use the verses to denigrate
  / despise married life. Married life is also a
  vocation.

• Paul argues for celibacy
• 32 I should like you to be free of anxieties.
• Contrast between an unmarried and a married man
• An unmarried man is anxious about the things of
  the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But a
  married man is anxious about the things of the
  world, how he may please his wife, 34 and he is
  divided.
• Contrast between an unmarried and a married woman
• 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.
• Paul argues for celibacy again
• 35 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.

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Reflections on the 2nd reading

• Paul, as a missionary, favors celibacy as a state
  of life.
• We know his purpose for practical reasons, not
  because married state is inferior.
• As a Jew and Pharisee, Paul himself would get
  married. It is the teaching of Judaism that a man
  should get married, raise children and teach
  them to follow the Torah.
• But here, Paul is willing to forgo marriage for
  the sake of mission work.
• Being single frees one from obligations and too
  much concern for ones wife / husband or family,
  which usually slows down missionary work.

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Gospel Reading Mark 1,21-28

• 21 Then they came to Capernaum, and on the
  sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22
  The people were astonished at his teaching, for
  he taught them as one having authority and not as
  the scribes.
• 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean
  spirit 24 he cried out, "What have you to do
  with us, 2 Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to
  destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of
  God!" 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet!
  Come out of him!" 26 The unclean spirit
  convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of
  him.
• 27 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." 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout
  the whole region of Galilee.

The focus of the reading is on the teaching
authority of Jesus.
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Gospel Reading Mark 1,21-28
A simple outline!

• Context of teaching
• 21 Then they came to Capernaum, and on the
  sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22
  The people were astonished at his teaching, for
  he taught them as one having authority and not as
  the scribes.
• A man possessed
• 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean
  spirit 24 he cried out, "What have you to do
  with us, 2 Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to
  destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of
  God!"
• Exorcism
• 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out
  of him!" 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and
  with a loud cry came out of him.
• Peoples reaction
• 27 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." 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout
  the whole region of Galilee.

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Gospel Reading Mark 1,21-28

• Context of teaching
• 21 Then they came to Capernaum, and on the
  sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22
  The people were astonished at his teaching, for
  he taught them as one having authority and not as
  the scribes.
• A man possessed
• 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean
  spirit 24 he cried out, "What have you to do
  with us, 2 Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to
  destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of
  God!"
• Exorcism
• 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out
  of him!" 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and
  with a loud cry came out of him.
• Peoples reaction
• 27 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." 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout
  the whole region of Galilee.

• Commentary
• V.21 situates where Jesus teaches
• Capernaum, Sabbath and synagogue
• He teaches with authority (vv.22 and 27)
• Two things happen in the synagogue
• One, the quality of his teaching (with authority)
  v.22
• Two, his authority over unclean spirit (exorcism)
  (vv.23-26)
• These two are sources of amazement of the people
  in the synagogue. Vv.22 and 27
• V.28 expands the scope of Jesus fame
• Not only in Capernaum, but in the whole of
  Galilee.

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Reflections on the gospel reading

• Like Jesus, we, teachers and preachers and
  ordinary missionaries, must do our jobs with
  authority (confidence, with conviction).
• We cannot afford to be amateuristic and mediocre
  in our own fields.
• So many people are listening to us.
• We dont take them for granted.
• We should amaze them with the power of our words,
  which should be well thought of and lived.
• Our sentences and paragraphs must be well
  constructed (correct grammar and logical, with
  style) to give more meaning. Our deliveries must
  be well-rehearsed.
• The content of our teaching and preaching must be
  the power of God in our lives.

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Tying the three readings and the Psalm

• The first reading is focused on the prophet, who
  communicates Gods word to the people.
• The psalm teaches us to approach God.
• The second reading is focused on celibacy which
  enhances missionary (prophetic) work.
• The gospel reading presents Jesus as a teacher
  (with authority). Being a teacher is being a
  prophet itself.

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How to develop your homily / sharing

• Are there persons who are helping you become
  closer to God?
• They may be your parish priest, spiritual
  director, religious friends, the Pope, etc.
• What makes you listen to them and take to heart
  their words?
• They speak with clarity, authority and
  conviction.
• They are credible, practicing catholics.

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• We should know whom to listen to.
• The reading sets some criteria.
• The first reading defines what a prophet is all
  about
• He is raised (called) by God.
• He speaks on behalf of God.
• He does not teach about himself or about some
  other god.
• Take note, you, who are involved in New Age
  Movements (occultism, sorcery, fortune tellers,
  Avatars, witchcrafts, etc.).

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• The gospel reading teaches us to listen to Jesus.
• He is Gods beloved Son.
• He is here to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He
  asks us to repent and believe in the gospel. (Go
  back to his opening salvo. Mk 1,15)
• He speaks with authority. He has power in his
  words.
• He casts out evil spirits.

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• The second reading tells us about missionary
  Paul, who is speaking out his mind.
• He is talking about how he should carry out his
  mission better.
• He wants to be free of the anxieties of a married
  man.
• He prefers celibacy.
• For us, Christians, who may not be celibates, if
  we want to share in the mission of Christ, we
  must be free of anxieties just the same.
• Anxiety affects mission work.

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• By virtue of our baptism, we share in the mission
  of Christ.
• Like Christ, we must be credible and speak with
  authority and are able to exorcise evil in our
  society.
• In our churches, we need to train our teachers
  before fielding them
• Priests, preachers, deacons, catechists,
  exorcists
• The demand of our Church is not just knowledge of
  catechism and Bible, but lived sound theology.
• Sound theology includes understanding of
  ecclessiology, christology, eschatology,
  soteriology, mariology, sacramentology, liturgy,
  Bible, moral theology, canon law, pastoral
  theology, church history, dogma, Trinity, signs
  of the times, etc.

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• We need to screen men, who want to become priests
  (teachers) but find it hard to understand the
  Catholic doctrine or theology. These people, if
  ordained but unprepared, will create confusion
  and wreak havoc in our churches.
• Too bad, not much budget is allotted for the
  seminary formation, training of formators,
  catechetical formation, and ongoing formations.
• We also need church ministers, who are not
  anxious of their future and their families, who
  have no personality disorders.

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• Let us remember that our vocation is to advance
  Gods kingdom.
• This is the purpose of our mission, apostolate,
  teachings, healings, social work, etc.

"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of
God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the
gospel." (Mk 1,15)
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• The eucharist is the sacrament to help us advance
  Gods kingdom.
• The reception of the eucharist is a sign that
  Gods kingdom is at hand. It is a sign of
  conversion and acceptance of the gospel.
• The eucharist gives strength to the missionaries,
  who totally dedicate themselves to the interests
  of Gods kingdom.

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Our Context of Sin and Grace

• False teachers
• False prophets
• Religious becoming more clerical, not prophetic
• Many wives
• Many families
• Tendentious teachings and interpretations
• Sermons that do not lead to conversion
• No logic
• No context
• New Age Movement

• Celibate
• Single blessedness
• Consecrated life
• Prophetic religious
• Well-prepared teachers
• Trained formators
• Practicing catholics
• Catechists
• Scholarship programs
• Formators
• Education ministry

The End
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Suggested Songs

• Holy, Holy
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v104r1805jL0
• Come With Me
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vNFcxr1uIRMk
• Come To Me
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vID90ryPYU00
• Follow Christ