The grace of clarity of identity and mission
Jan. 28—Fourth Sunday in Ordinary TimeReadings: Dt 18:15-20; Ps 95, R. If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Gospel—Mark 1:21-28Today’s Gospel gives us two very important ministries of the Church, preaching or teaching and the expelling of evil spirits. These will be our first two points for reflection, which we will synthesize with the reaction of the people.
“The people were astonished at His teaching, for he taught them as one having authority … ” (cf. Mark 1:21-28) Several times in the Gospels we see this description of Jesus’ work, done with authority.
Fr. Horacio dela Costa, S.J., in his homily on the centurion’s appeal to Jesus to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13), pointed out that to possess and exercise authority is to give life. This was what the Lord constantly did in His ministry.
His teaching, His healing and His exorcising were all done with authority, life-giving and inspiring. This was what endeared Him to the people and made him so popular that there were crowds wherever He went.
This is an important point for us to reflect on. Are our works, our ministries as a Church, individually and communally—lay, religious and the clergy—life-giving? Do we inspire the people we serve?
The source of the Lord’s authority was His clarity of identity and mission. This was the source of His integrity. Everything He said and did flowed from His integrity as the Beloved Son who constantly aimed to be pleasing to the Father through loving obedience.This is a grace available to us, clarity of identity and mission. This, like the Lord, will bless us with integrity. Like the Lord, we too can be life-giving and inspiring.
For us to live and serve with authority is to do so in imitation of Jesus as His followers, as companions in and on mission.
The second ministry described in today’s Gospel is the ministry of expelling evil spirits. This is central to the mission of the Church, the ongoing battle between good and evil in the world.
We are all called to engage in this battle to overcome the evils of and in the world with good. Many of us were, and continue to be, part of this crusade to overcome evil with good.
Acts of kindness
Recall the early days of the pandemic in 2020. Amidst uncertainty and anxiety, many of us—the front-liners, both medical and peace and order personnel—responded to the needs of many communities that needed ayuda in kind, especially food on the table.
These acts of kindness and care won for us the “first round” of the battle to overcome evil with good. It showed—even to us—that we can all be part of this battle.
And with the initial results, we see we can win this battle. We have done it, overcoming the evils of this pandemic with good.The challenge and invitation for us is to continue doing good, overcoming evil with good every day, in every act, big or small, with constancy, to win the battle with prudence, constantly discerning what is God’s will.
Finally, reflecting on the people’s reaction: “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.”
“His fame spread everywhere.” In our language today, Jesus went viral.
Recall Pope Francis’ first apostolic exhortation in 2013, “Evangelii Gaudium,” to bring the joy of the Gospel in our world today with a renewed sense of mission.
We are all called to be part of this renewed mission of the Church and “amaze” people once more, most especially the last, the lost and the least, the marginalized and vulnerable.
In all this, may the “[Lord’s] fame spread everywhere throughout the whole [world].” —Contributed INQ
