Gospel: January 14, 2025
January 14, 2025 (Tuesday)
1st Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)
Ps 8:2ab & 5, 6-7, 8-9
You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
1st Reading: Hebrews 2:5-12
The angels were not given dominion over the new world of which we are speaking. Instead, someone declared in Scripture: What is man, that you should be mindful of him, what is the son of man that you should care for him? For a while you placed him a little lower than the angels, but you crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over all things. When it is said, that God gave him dominion over all things, nothing is excluded. As it is, we do not yet see his dominion over all things. But Jesus, who suffered death, and for a little while, was placed lower than the angels, has been crowned with honor and glory. For the merciful plan of God demanded that he experience death, on behalf of everyone. God, from whom all come, and by whom all things exist, wanted to bring many children to glory, and he thought it fitting to make perfect, through suffering, the initiator of their salvation. So, he who gives, and those who receive holiness, are one. He, himself, is not ashamed of calling us brothers and sisters, as we read: Lord, I will proclaim your name to my brothers; I will praise you in the congregation.
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
They went into the town of Capernaum and Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. The people were astonished at the way he taught, for he spoke as one having authority, and not like the teachers of the law. It happened that, a man with an evil spirit was in their synagogue, and he shouted, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus faced him and said with authority, “Be silent, and come out of this man!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and, with a loud shriek, came out of him. All the people were astonished, and they wondered, “What is this? With what authority he preaches! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him!” And Jesus’ fame spread throughout all the country of Galilee.
Reflection:
“The Holy One of God.”
Christ continues to show his divine authority in today’s Gospel, a he casts out the evil spirit from the man in the synagogue. As the psalm response says, God the Father has given his Son the rule over all the work of his hands, even the demons, the creatures who have chosen to disobey God forever. Christ has power and authority over all creation, but God has also given free will to humans, that we might freely choose to serve him. The demons recognize who Jesus is, as “the Holy One of God”, but they fear his holiness rather than rejoice in it. As we meet Jesus in the Scriptures do we recognize him as our Lord and God? Is our encounter with him in prayer a cause for rejoicing or are we indifferent to his presence or tepid in our response to him? Do we fail to accept Christ’s mercy in some way, and so remain afraid of him and his judgment. The Holy One came to save us. Let us run to him, without fear.
