The Church has now entered the season of Ordinary Time. A more precise meaning would be "Ordered Time," for this season of the Church Year is marked by godly order as opposed to ordinary, mundane activity. Today's Gospel shows the impact of God's order coming into a situation. A man in the synagogue is possessed by a demon (Mk 1:23). His life is disordered rather than ordered under the freedom of the children of God. Jesus casts out the demon and sets this man free. This is no "ordinary" worship service! This man's life is now under the order of God instead of the possession of Satan.
The demons ask Jesus: "Have You come to destroy us?" (Mk 1:24) The answer is a resounding "Yes!" "It was to destroy the devil's works that the Son of God revealed Himself" (1 Jn 3:8). Jesus came to destroy the godless secular culture, sin, death, fear, injustice, hatred, the kingdom of darkness, and all that opposes the reign of God in this world. Jesus destroys so that the foundation site can be cleared to build what will last. Jesus is a Carpenter (see Mt 13:55), and He knows that a house cannot be built on a disordered foundation (see Mt 7:24-27).
In this season of Ordinary Time, cooperate with Jesus as He destroys and builds. Clear out of your life whatever is opposed to God's order. Allow Jesus to destroy whatever He wishes. Be still, and know that He is God (see Ps 46:10, RSV-CE).
| PRAYER: | Father, thank You for loving me so much that You send a "Master-Builder" (1 Cor 3:10) to remodel my life. Do in me whatever You must in order to do through me whatever You will. |
| PROMISE: | "A completely new teaching in a spirit of authority! He gives orders to unclean spirits and they obey!" –Mk 1:27 |
| PRAISE: | Marcia stayed away from Mass for years. Her cousin sent her a video about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Marcia watched it and was so touched that she gave her life to Jesus and returned to the Church. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College