Sunday Reflections:Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Deut 18:15-20; 1Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28

image courtesy: Mangalore diocese 

Karl Marx once said, “The aim of philosophy should be not just to explain the world but to change it”. It is the same with the gospel we preach and teach. In the synagogue of Capernaum, it might have been a usual sabbath. Rabi preached them and they prayed and went away. On a particular sabbath, Jesus did make a difference with his teaching. They were amazed at his teaching. Why? “They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). This statement indicates that the scribes were not preaching with authority. 

When we compare and contrast the teaching of Jesus with that of the scribes we notice three distinguishing qualities: The teaching of Jesus is 

(a) from the heart and not just from the head

(b) focuses on the spirit and not on the letter of the law, and 

(c) inspires a positive change of heart in the hearers.

I suggest you to read the today’s Gospel carefully. It is a scene of the synagogue at Capernaum. Synagogue is a place of prayer. Every day the scribes went there and prayed. In other words, it is a holy place.  Are you not surprised to see a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue? How is it possible? 

Read this poem, "The Scarecrow", written by KAHLIL GIBRAN

Once I said to a scarecrow, “You must be tired of standing in this

lonely field.”

And he said, “The joy of scaring is a deep and lasting one, and I

never tire of it.”

Said I, after a minute of thought, “It is true; for I too have

known that joy.”

Said he, “Only those who are stuffed with straw can know it.”

Then I left him, not knowing whether he had complimented or belittled

me.

A year passed, during which the scarecrow turned philosopher.

And when I passed by him again I saw two crows building a nest

under his hat.

"The Scarecrow" is built in order to scare the crows. But the two crows have built their nest under the hat. The crows’ nest is also intended to illustrate that the scarecrow is useless and incapable of doing the only work he was meant to do, scaring the crows and allowing the seeds to grow. 

Let us now compare this with the synagogue. The synagogue supposed to keep the devil out and help the people to grow in their faith in Yahweh. Since it was not the case, the presence of Jesus in that synagogue made the difference. 

When we use our heart (discern the will of God in our life), when we focus on the spirit of the law (what is the message of the Commandment today in my context?) we automatically inspire a positive change of heart of those around us. 

Let us keep the Word of God at the centre of our life. So that the devil is kept out of our synagogues (heart). May the authority of Jesus rule us.

(Kindly put down your comments and reflections in the section below)

Happy Sunday