The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011315.cfm) reminds me that to merely know God is not enough.
The first reading and the psalm clearly reminds us who Jesus is. How powerful and loved by God he is. However, in the gospel, we see that merely knowing this is not enough. Merely knowing who Jesus is, is not enough. Merely knowing his power is not enough. We need to go past beyond that level.
Simply telling others about Jesus is not enough.
We see in the gospel that the man with unclean spirit clearly knows who Jesus is. He knows the power of Jesus. He cried out and told everybody who Jesus was, not so that others may believe in him and be led to him, but probably to distract Jesus and others in the temple. We also see that it is not enough telling others about Jesus or who Jesus is. Jesus told him to shut up.
God wants us to be more and more like Him, like Jesus. God wants us to follow Jesus. God wants us to submit to Him. This is an everyday decision, in little and big ways. By treating others right, especially those who do not deserve it, by respecting others, by living fair and just, we can become more and more like Jesus. By being happy and calm despite all the troubles and concerns, by being helpful despite all our problems, by being generous despite our personal needs, we become more and more like Jesus. These things are more powerful and important rather than just talking about Jesus.
May we be moved not just to talk about Jesus, but experience him and share him to others through our lives.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know you more. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I ask that you help me get past the level of just knowing you and talking about you. May I desire to be more and more like you. Give me the grace to be so. Help me do my part in building your kingdom, and may I not just know and talk about you, but help me make you alive in others through my life. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
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January 13, 2015
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 306
Reading 1 Heb 2:5-12
It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come,
of which we are speaking.
Instead, someone has testified somewhere:
What is man that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man that you care for him?
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor,
subjecting all things under his feet.
In “subjecting” all things to him,
he left nothing not “subject to him.”
Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,”
but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor”
because he suffered death,
he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,”
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates
and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers” saying:
I will proclaim your name to my brethren,
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (see 7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
O LORD, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
Alleluia See 1 Thes 2:13
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 1:21-28
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,
and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
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.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
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