FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME , YEAR B

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Psalm 94:1-2.6-9

1Corinthians 7:32-35

Mark 1:21-28

THE MOUTHPIECE OF GOD

God never ceases to speak to his people. He always chooses intermediaries through whom he makes his will and word known to man. In the first reading, He promised that he would raise a prophet like onto Moses to the people of Israel. Such prophet would be his mouthpiece. As such, the people must listen to him, just as they would listen to God Himself (Deut. 18:15-20). It is of no wonder that the psalmist says: “O that today you would listen to his voice, harden not your hearts.”

In the gospel pericope, the evangelist Mark presents Jesus as one who taught the people with authority and not like the scribes. His words were powerful and efficacious; they made deep impression on his listeners. The authority of his new teaching was manifest in his miracles; even the unclean spirits obeyed his word (Mark 1:21-28).

In fact, Jesus Christ remains the great prophet of all times. Nevertheless, he has given the authority to the Church to teach all nations. In this respect, two implications are worth noting. First, those who exercise the teaching authority in the Church must avoid the temptation of preaching themselves or teaching something contrary to God’s Word. Boldness in preaching the truth that liberates man and fidelity to God’s Word must be the hallmark of all their pronouncements and teachings.

Second, as believers, we are called to listen to those who speak to us in the name of God, for because they represent the Lord himself. They are God’s mouthpiece in our midst. It is our duty therefore to show obedience and respect to them. But we must also discern when they speak authoritatively in the name of the Lord, and when they express their own opinions on some issues, like in the case of Paul’s advice on marriage (1Co. 7:32-35).

In this perspective, let’s ask ourselves: how do we pay attention to the teachings of the Pope, our bishops and priests? How do we react when bishops and priests intervene in some socio-political issues? Let’s remember what Jesus said: “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the One who sent me” (Luke 10:16).

May the Lord give us a listening ear and a docile heart towards his Word that heals and sets us free. Amen

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Jonah 3:1-5.10

Psalm 24:4-9

1Corinthians 7:29-21

Mark 1:14-20

An Urgent Call to Conversion

We celebrate today the “Sunday of the Word of God”, inaugurated by Pope Francis two years ago. On this day, the Word of God addresses to each one of us an urgent call to conversion. In the first reading, the people of Nineveh repented at the proclamation of the prophet Jonah (Jonah 3:1-5.10). In the second reading, St Paul calls on the Corinthians to turn away from the things of this world, because the world as we know, is passing away (1Cor. 7:29-21). The gospel reading speaks of the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus which bears the imprint of the call to repentance. It is interesting to note that Jesus began his public ministry when John the Baptist was arrested and jailed. But the message of John and that of Jesus remained the same: call to repentance (Mark 1:14-20).

From the readings, two things are worth noting about conversion or repentance. First, the call to conversion is an urgent call. “Only forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed” (first reading). “Our time is growing short,” says Paul. “The time has come and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel,” proclaims Jesus. Thus, conversion is now. One cannot say: “I will repent tomorrow.” It is a daily affair.

Second, conversion implies a twofold movement: turning away from and turning to. When the people of Nineveh heard the proclamation of the prophet Jonah, they turned away from their evil ways and turned to God. When the disciples heard Jesus’ call, they turned away from their nets and profession, and turned to Jesus. They followed him.

Ask yourself what do you have to turn away from in order to turn to God: attachment to worldly things and pleasures, double allegiance, gossip, insincerity, unfaithfulness in your relationship, arrogance, immorality, etc. All these things are incompatible with the Word of God. And you must make a daily effort to avoid them. Remember, the time is now. Repent and live!

May God bless us and teach us his ways.

Amen

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

1 Samuel 3:3-10.19

Psalm 39(40)

1 Corinthians 6: 13-15.17-20

John 1: 35-42

OUR CHRISTIAN CALL

The Christian life is a vocation. It begins with the encounter with a person: Jesus Christ. As in any vocation, it is the Lord who calls and man responds. In today's first reading, it is God who calls Samuel by his name (1Sam. 3:3-10.19). In the gospel reading, it is Jesus who initiates the conversation by asking the two disciples of John: "What are you looking for?" Then, he told them: "Come and see" (John 1:35-42).

Christian life is therefore a call to be with the Lord, to remain with him. Being with him requires certain attitudes. Three of these are proposed to us in today's readings:

1. Listening

Like Samuel, we need to listen to God who speaks to us. Eli the priest instructed the young boy to respond to the unknown voice: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." God continues to speak to us, but we find it difficult to respond to him, because our life is full of noise, noise inside and around us. Even in prayer, not only are we often distracted, but also we like speaking to God without allowing him to speak to us.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: "God is the friend of silence. He cannot be found in noise and restlessness." Do you want to find God, do you want Him to speak to you? Learn the art of silence and listening.

2. Showing the Lord to others

Eli helped the young boy Samuel to discover the voice of the Lord. John the Baptist showed Christ to his disciples. And Andrew introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. We too must learn to introduce other to the faith and help them grow in their spiritual life. This is the role of every Christian, especially that of parents, Godfathers or Godmothers and our Spiritual director.

3. Avoiding immorality

Saint Paul affirms that the obedience of faith is the free response of the whole person to God. Thus, he advices us to avoid immorality, for our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and members of Christ. A good Christians must therefore glorify God in his body (1Cor. 6:13-15.17-20).

May the Lord teach us to listen to him and become his true witnesses for his glory and for our own salvation.

Amen.

SOLEMNITY OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, YEAR B

Isaiah 55:1-11

1 John 5:1-9

Mark 1:7-11

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

After the Feast of the Epiphany, we celebrate today the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. As narrated in the gospel, John was baptizing the crowd in preparation for the coming of the expected Messiah. Jesus too came to be baptized by John; and as he was coming out of the water, three events happened: the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and a voice was heard saying "You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased".

As we know, John’s baptism was a sign of repentance from sin. To be baptized by John was an acknowledgement of human frailty and a thirst for God's redeeming mercy. But why did Jesus receive John’s baptism since he is the Son of God, “God’s anointed” without sin?

In fact, Jesus’ baptism was an inaugural act, so to speak. It marked the beginning of his public life and ministry as he set out to do the Father's will and announce the arrival of God’s kingdom. As such Jesus’ baptism was an opportunity to reveal his identity and mission to the people. In the words of today’s second reading, the Spirit that descended upon Jesus is the one that testifies that Jesus is God’s beloved Son, “and the Spirit is truth.”

Moreover, Jesus’ baptism has much to tell us about our own baptism than his own. For on the day of our baptism, we received the Holy Spirit that made us sons and daughters of God, incorporated in the Church. Our sins were wiped away. We were renewed, regenerated and reborn of water and the Holy Spirit. On that day, we too, like Jesus, were given an assurance of God’s love and favour, and we too were empowered by the Holy Spirit for the journey that lay before us. We were introduced to the kingdom of God’s grace and mercy, a kingdom of abundance as the first reading indicates.

Thus, today’s celebration is an opportunity for us to reflect on our own baptism and its significance. It is an opportunity to evaluate how far we have gone with our baptismal promises and ask God to renew in us the baptismal grace. Therefore, let us ask him to empower us in the Holy Spirit so that we may be able to bear witness to him now and forever. Amen

SOLEMNITY OF EPIPHANY

Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 71

Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6

Matthew 2:1-12

THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD

We celebrate today the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word “epiphany” means manifestation, revelation or showing forth. This feast is associated with the visit of the Magi as narrated by the Evangelist Matthew. Through a star, God revealed the birth of his Son to the magi in the east. In this visit, we see the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. According to the prophet, the Messiah will reveal his glory to all the nations. As such, all the pagan nations will walk to come with presents to see the glory of Jerusalem, the city of God.

Indeed, in Jesus Christ, God became man for the salvation of all. Therefore, he manifests himself to all. To the shepherds, he revealed himself in a manger. To the pagans of St Paul’s time, he revealed his love through the proclamation of the Gospel (Eph. 3:2-3.5-6). To us too, He manifests himself in various ways, especially in the daily events of our life, in prayer and especially in the celebration of the Eucharist. God adapts himself to the concrete conditions of each one of us. There is no stranger in God’s plan of salvation. He reveals himself to all without discrimination.

It is also noteworthy that when the wise men saw the star, they left their country and followed it until they found the infant Jesus. When King Herod received the news through the magi, he was perturbed and wanted to kill the new born king so as to secure his reign (Matt. 2:1-12). No matter what our intentions are, God will reveal himself to us anyway.

What makes the difference is therefore our response to him. Our response must be to accept Jesus as our Star, the Light that enlightens our life. When we accept him, we become little candles that radiate the light of Christ to the world. We must therefore rise and shine, as the first reading commands us (Is. 60,1-6). Rising and shining are characteristic of the sun, which gives light, life and warmth to all. We are therefore called to shine in the world, covered by the darkness of sin, wickedness, selfishness, injustice, corruption, violence, hatred, unforgiveness, etc.

May the Infant Jesus grant us the grace and courage to manifest his love and mercy wherever we find ourselves. Amen .