More than Just Knowing

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011519.cfm) reminds me that it is not enough to just merely know God. 

In this world, connections are powerful. Knowing a high ranking law enforcement officer or a government official can sometimes get people out of some problems in traffic and maybe even bigger ones. Knowing top executives in companies may guarantee a high position or business deals. This works in the world, but not with God. 

What works in this world do not always work with God. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus proclaiming God’s word. He was teaching in the synagogue. That time, the people still did not know who Jesus was. However, someone knew. We see that the demon inside the man knew who Jesus was. He proclaimed it. He told people about it. But Jesus was not pleased with it, and instead told the demon to be quiet and come out of the person.

Merely knowing Jesus is not enough.

Jesus knew the intention of the demon for telling who he really was – to disrupt his work in proclaiming God’s kingdom. And though he proclaimed with the lips who Jesus was, of course the heart is not one with it. His actions are not consistent with what the lips say. Knowing and saying who is Jesus is not as important as living it through our lives. If we know with our lips that Jesus is the Holy One of God, then we should also live our lives proclaiming that truth.

We all know who Jesus is. We all know who God is. That is a good thing, but not enough. God wants us to go further. God wants us not only to tell the world with our lips, but more importantly, by our lives. We need more than knowing him, but have a personal relationship with him as well. A personal relationship that will move us into action. 

Do I know who God is? How do I tell people about it? Do I tell others with my words and proclamations? Do I also tell people about God through my actions and my life? What is the best way to proclaim God? 

May we be challenged and inspired to go beyond lip service and tell who Jesus is by our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another day to love and serve you. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for reminding me that knowing you is not enough. Thank you for reminding me that telling others about you is not enough. Sorry for the times I think it is enough to just know you and tell others about you. Sorry for stopping at that level. I ask that you Help me live my faith and knowledge of you. Help me build a personal relationship with you. May it move me into action. may I share you to others not just with my words, but with my actions and through my life as well. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

January 15 2019

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.