January 31 – February 1, 2009
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Super Sunday
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 First Corinthians 7:32-35 Mark 1:21-28
Street smarts versus book knowledge.
The ‘university of age’ versus an academic degree.
Lead by example.
As we begin to unfold the public ministry of Jesus we encounter a man who is obviously ‘powerful.’ This weekend we hear of the amazement of the crowds who witnessed his ridding a man of an unclean spirit. The crowd seems to be particularly impressed with a seemingly ‘new teaching with authority’, which implies that they were well taught of many things….but aware that those doing the teaching lacked any personal authority that would ‘seal the deal.’ In our day-to-day culture we are bombarded by a steady stream of voices demanding we live our lives in particular fashion. There are the religious-zealots who demand scrupulous adherence to rubrical minutia, there are the political die-hards who automatically condemn an idea or suggestion that is uttered by anyone other than their own anointed, there are the self appointed societal moral or politically-correct police who are frequently even more peripheral than those they are condemning. Why do we listen to some and not to others? What determines why we hear some messages and immediately discard them as opposed to taking others to heart and allowing them to guide our lives? Throughout the Gospels we hear Jesus calling people to himself…but always giving them the freedom to say yes or no. He allows the ‘rich young man’ to walk away sad…but he does not condemn him. Jesus does not demand that the woman caught in adultery confess her sins before he begins his relationship with her. Perhaps the respect and amazement of the people is that they realized Jesus was not trying to control them…he was trying to ‘be with them.’ In that he gained all the authority and power in the world. And what about us…why do we listen to some and not to others. How do we try to pass on our wisdom and insights…do we do it with threats and curses…or with relevance and relationship in which we show how our lives have been changed by what was passed on to us? Oh yeah…what’s that other old saying?????…. ‘Actions speak louder than words.’
Thank you for sharing this SUPER weekend with our Catholic-Christian Community. Go Angels! Last weekend was the start of our 2009 Pastoral Services Appeal pledge effort and we are most certainly still accepting your pledges this weekend and through the weeks ahead. Remember, this is a 10-month pledge, even $20 a week constitutes a substantial pledge when totaled over the rest of the year! The PSA is our primary manner of paying down our mortgage…so please…if you consider Corpus Christi your home and family….make your PSA pledge NOW! Please accept a copy of the Bulletin on your way home…you wouldn’t want to miss out on any of our upcoming events. Don’t forget to enjoy some sausage products on Monday, February 2nd ….after all, it is ‘ground-hog’ day…and while you do, remember, you are loved. FKB
