28 January 2024: Fourth Sunday of Ordinary time B

Reading 1	Response	Reading 2	Gospel
Dt 18:15-20	Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9	1 Cor 7:32-35	Mk 1:21-28
		RCL:1 Cor 8:1-13

The power and authority of God’s word

During Ordinary time the Lectionary presents stories and teachings from Jesus’ everyday ministry. This week’s readings focus on the power and authority of God’s words and prophets’ words.

First reading (Dt 18:15-20)

The first reading is from Deuteronomy (“second law”), the fifth and final book of Torah. Deuteronomy takes the form four sermons or exhortations by Moses to the Israelites before they enter Canaan. Moses’ instructions provide a panoramic view of Israel’s saga from slavery to freedom, to covenant, and to Canaan. Deuteronomy addresses the community as well as the individual; it calls everyone to respond to God’s laws today.

In today’s pericope, the Deuteronomic author describes Moses’ second “farewell discourse,” in which Moses promises that God will continue to provide the people with prophets and prophetic leaders (“a prophet like me”). Hebrew scripture presents a prophet as one who ensures covenant fidelity and proclaims God’s word (“I will put my words into his mouth”). The Deuteronomic code closely regulates prophets and prophecy. God holds accountable anyone who ignores a prophet (that is, God’s word). God also holds accountable a prophet who speaks God’s word falsely (“he shall die”).

The Lectionary editors chose this reading because God’s promise continue prophecy and prophetic leaders is fulfilled in Jesus, who “teaches with authority.”

Second reading (1 Cor 7:32-35)

The second reading is the third part of a five-week, semi-continuous reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinth ekklesia. Paul writes to real flesh-and-blood people working out how best to live their faith. Paul teaches disciples to reject any words, actions, or distinctions that disrupt the community’s unity and holiness. Love is the basis and context for community life.

Today’s pericope is part of a longer section in which Paul’s advises virgins, engaged couples, married women, and widows about married life and remaining single. In today’s pericope, Paul frames his recommendations within his understanding of God’s immediate eschatological plan. Paul believes that Jesus will return soon, within Paul’s lifetime. An imminent end time changes the meaning of human experiences and priorities, including marriage. In this context, Paul counsels the unmarried to remain unmarried, so that he or she can concentrate on Jesus’ work (“the Lord’s things,” “how to please the Lord”), rather than worry about “things of the world” and pleasing one’s spouse. Paul is not requiring believers to be celibate (“not to impose a restraint”); he is merely suggesting celibacy for those who wish, so they can serve “the Lord without distraction.”

The Lectionary editors chose this reading to continue Ordinary time’s semi-continuous reading from First Corinthians.

Gospel (Mk 1:21-28)

Mark’s gospel describes Jesus’ “typical day” as he begins his ministry: he teaches authoritatively in a Capernaum synagogue and powerfully exorcises an unclean spirit. People are amazed by what Jesus says and does.

• Teaching with authority. The scribes focused on traditional doctrine, offering opinions about different Hebrew scripture interpretations and handing on traditional Torah interpretations. In contrast, Jesus proclaims that God’s kingdom or reign is near (Mk 1:15). Jesus’ authoritative teaching confirms the Baptizer’s promise about the “coming greater one” (Mk 1:7). Jesus speaks as one who has authority in himself to reveal scripture’s definitive meaning.
• Healing with power. First-century exorcists often used rituals and physical actions to expel demons. These rituals included tricking the demon into revealing his name, gaining the exorcist power over the demon. (In the ancient world, knowing someone’s personal or family name gave another authority over that person.) By contrast, Jesus’ words alone (“Quiet! Come out of him!”) confirm Jesus’ authority and healing power: by word alone Jesus expels the unclean spirit. Jesus’ words and teachings have power or authority because they accomplish what they say (see Is 55:11). Jesus’ powerful and authoritative words have the power to free humans from evil.

Summary and reflection

This week’s readings ask us to think about those who speak with authority and power. Moses promises that God will raise another prophet to speak God’s word to the people. Paul gives his own opinion, not a command, about the best way to serve the Lord free of anxiety and distraction. Jesus teaches with prophetic authority and his words have power to drive out evil.

Words matter, especially when the speaker claims to speak with authority. As today’s readings show, we should test authoritative speakers to ensure that their words align with their actions, and that their words truly free us from evil. How do we recognize and test modern self-identified prophets? Do we automatically grant leaders authority and power because they claim a title or they promise something better? Do we follow only those whose words confirm God’s authoritative words in bringing God’s reign near?

—Terence Sherlock

31 January 2021: Fourth Sunday of Ordinary time B

Reading 1	Response	Reading 2	Gospel
Dt 18:15-20	Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9	1 Cor 7:32-35	Mk 1:21-28
		RCL:1 Cor 8:1-13

Words’ prophetic power to drive out evil

During Ordinary time the Lectionary presents stories and teachings from Jesus’ everyday ministry. This week’s readings focus on the power of prophetic words.

The first reading is from Deuteronomy, the fifth and final book of the Torah. Today’s pericope is from Moses’ second “farewell discourse.” Moses promises that God will “raise up a prophet like me” to serve as an intermediary between God and the people (“as you requested of the Lord”), and as someone who hears and echoes God’s words (“I will put my words in his mouth,” “he shall tell them what I command”). Moses is referring in general to all the prophets who would succeed him. In the later biblical period, Jews interpreted this promise in a messianic sense. The Lectionary editors chose this reading because God’s promise to raise up “a prophet like Moses” is fulfilled in Jesus’ “teaching with authority” in today’s gospel.

The second reading is a continuation of Ordinary time’s semi-continuous reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian ekklesia. In today’s reading, Paul gives his thoughts on marriage, which require some historical and social context. First, Paul writes to a predominately gentile community, and addresses believers immersed in Greek thought and culture. Second, in this time and culture, families arrange marriages for social, political, or business benefit. Third, Paul views marriage as part of the present order, which is “passing away.” In the pericope, Paul states that being devoted to the Lord is both morally appropriate (“propriety”) and honorable (“adherence … without distraction”). An unmarried person has no obligations (is “free of anxieties”) and can be fully attentive to (“please”) the Lord. Married people have competing obligations: to their families’ social and business ties, and to the Lord; they are “divided.” Although he personally recommends remaining unmarried, he does not require it (“not impose a burden on you”). The Lectionary editors chose this reading as part Ordinary time’s semi-continuous reading from 1 Corinthians.

Mark’s gospel is from Jesus’ “day of ministry.” Mark tells about Jesus’ authoritative teaching, his power over unclean spirits, and the inbreaking of God’s reign.

• Authoritative teaching. The synagogue attendees compare the teachings of the scribes and Jesus: the scribes repeat other rabbis’ opinions and hand on traditional interpretations, while Jesus proclaims God’s kingdom is near. Jesus’ words have power or authority because they come from his true prophetic voice.
• Authority over unclean spirits. In the ancient world people believed that humans occupied only a small part of the universe; the rest was filled with many spirits, most threatening to humans. First-century exorcists typically used physical means or magic rituals to trick spirits into leaving a possessed person. Jesus commands the unclean spirit to “be muzzled” to “come out.” By the authority of Jesus’ word alone the unclean spirit leaves the man.
• New teaching with authority. “What just happened?” the amazed people ask. Jesus’ teaching is new not only because the people haven’t heard it before, but also because the teaching has the power or authority to accomplish what it communicates. Jesus’ words announcing God’s kingdom or reign have the power to free humans from evil.

This week’s readings ask us to think about speaking with authority and power. Moses promises that God will raise another prophet to speak God’s word to the people. Paul is clear to say he is giving his own opinion, not the Lord’s command. Jesus teaches with prophetic authority and his words have power to drive out evil. How do we use the power of words? Do our authoritative words give comfort or do they cause confusion? Do we hear what God asks of us, or do we proclaim what we want to accomplish? Do we use our powerful words drive evil out, or do our words put more evil into the world?

—Terence Sherlock