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.
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: DEVIL'S FOOD
"There appeared in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit that shrieked." –Mark 1:23
As we begin "ordinary" time, we are already reading about Jesus driving out demons. Throughout the year, we will hear reading after reading about the Lord's victory over the evil one. We will meet Michael the archangel and several saints, who were each victorious over the evil one. At the Masses on Easter Sunday, in every Catholic church in the world, the Church will invite us to publicly renounce Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises.
What are we to make of all these references to the devil? Because of the effects of secular humanism on us, we are tempted to consider the traditions of the Church and the Bible to be backward and unenlightened. This modern attitude is so arrogant that it serves as a good example of Satan's deceptions, even while it denies such things. However, to be intellectually honest, we must admit that the Church and the Bible intend to be taken literally when they speak of Satan.
Christianity believes that Satan is a rebellious angel. He is not symbolic or just an evil force. He is a creature with a will and intelligence. Satan has several thousands or even millions of other fallen angels in his company. These are called "demons" or "devils." They are real and powerful. They would destroy us if not for Jesus, but we can drive them out by Jesus' power (Mk 16:17; Mt 10:1).
PRAYER: Father, throughout this year may I fix my eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2) and expel demons (Mk 16:17).
PROMISE: "We do see Jesus crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death." –Heb 2:9
PRAISE: St. Hilary was praised by Sts. Augustine and Jerome as "a fair cedar transplanted out of this world into the Church."
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