January 29, 2012
Deuteronomy 18:15-20;
Psalm 95; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28
In
comforting the Israelites, Moses proclaims that a prophet like him will be
raised up and the people will be wise to listen to him. Moses often has the
problem of speaking God’s words to the people while the people choose not to
listen. He tells them that this new prophet who will come along will speak with
God’s authority and the consequence for not listening to him is death.
Jesus
begins with public ministry with much fanfare. He enters a synagogue and
teaches in more astounding ways than any scribe has done. The scribes are undisputed
scripture scholars who are appointed to faithfully interpret scripture and hold
onto doctrinal orthodoxy. Jesus upends them and provides unsurpassed knowledge
of scripture and not only a new interpretation. He challenges the entire
religious educational structure. Naturally, the scribes are the first to
question his authority and inquire about the source of his knowledge.
The
words of Jesus reveal his identity for even if humans do not comprehend what is
going on, the unclean spirits and demons do. Jesus, through mere words,
demonstrates power over the demons that leave everyone aghast. Through the
power of words, news of Jesus spreads throughout all of Galilee.
Choosing
words with precision is necessary in today’s climate. In political circles,
civic leaders know the importance of framing language to shape public opinion.
Sound-byte slogans carry great weight because they represent an inherent
worldview and political philosophy. Whoever wins the war of words will garner
more votes and will shape the landscape in their favor. The victors of wars
write the history of the vanquished and keep themselves positioned to remain in
power. Words have a power unto themselves.
As I
am in the middle of directing a Thirty-Day silent retreat, I sit back and watch
the ways retreatants learn to respect words and silence. During days of repose,
it is natural for a person to resist breaking the silence because they don’t
want the process of relating to God be interrupted by human words. At the end
of the retreat, they resist a return to their families and communities because
they know they will talk so much about the weather, sports teams, Brittany
Spears’ new haircut, and other cultural events that do not carry as much weight
as the meaningful conversations they have held each day with their retreat
directors. The retreatants want to maintain respect of the power of words and
silence.
Try
an experiment this week that may be uncomfortable. Speak less. We all want to
be seen and heard, but can we help others be seen and heard? See if you can go
through a day or a week of deliberately listening and hearing what others are
saying. Instead of reacting, just respond to them. Ask clarifying questions
that elicit for them the meaning of what they are trying to communicate. You’ll
come to a point when you know that you have really connected and the person
will really connect with you for truly respecting them. Ironically, we converse
better when we first intently listen. The rewards of a more meaningful
conversation are immediately evident. It is extremely satisfying.
I
used to be a person who wanted to tell others what I was thinking. I still want
to share myself with my friends, but I’m happier to listen to them and find out
what is going on in their lives. Mutuality is assured. I find myself holding
onto what they say with greater dignity and respect because I can listen better.
I find that when I hold onto what another person says, I have less need to
share. I am satisfied honoring them. Sometimes a person merely has to speak
about what he or she feels. That may be all they need – and the power of
carefully chosen words and silence can heal, console, and give life.
The
words of Jesus have the power to create and give life. His words retain great
power. Our world will be strengthened when we harness of power of the words we
speak to quiet the demons and silence adversaries of truth and life. Then, we
can see life beginning anew as the kingdom of God spreads throughout the earth.
Themes for this Week’s Masses
First
Reading: An
informant came to tell David that his son, Absalom, was plotting to rise
against him. Shimea, from Saul's clan, began to curse David, who allowed him to
freely express himself. Absalom came up against David's servants and had a
freak accident. He hung from a tree where he was thrust in the heart with
pikes. A servant came to tell David that his son was dead. Instead of
celebrating the victory over a rebellion, David and his army mourned for
Absalom. David counts the numbers of troops in Israel (800,000) and Judah
(500,000) and realized he sinned against the Lord for not trusting him. David
chooses one of three pestilences as penitence for his crimes and he selects a
plague that kills over 700,000 of his people. David relents and asks for
punishment of himself rather than harm on his people. After the death of David,
the Book of Sirach offers a song of praise about David's many accomplishments
and his growing trust in the Lord. David's son Solomon rises to the throne. At
his anointing, the Lord asks him what he wants and he valiantly asks for an
understanding heart to judge the Lord's people and to distinguish right from
wrong. The Lord is well pleased.
Gospel:
Jesus crossed to the other side of the sea as he left Israel and came into the
foreign lands of the Decapolis. He encountered a strong demoniac who could not
be bound by chains. He was exiled to a cemetery to live among the demons. Jesus
cured him and sent his legion of demons into a swineherd. He then crossed back
into Israeli territory and met Jairus, a synagogue official whose 12 year old
daughter was near death. She died. Jesus then heals a woman who suffered for 12
years of a hemorrhage. While he was speaking, Jesus told Jairus his daughter
will live. Many doubted, but she rose once Jesus prayed over her. Jesus
returned home and taught in the synagogues. People were amazed at his teaching.
After all, he was merely the son of Joseph and Mary, and the brother to four
other brothers and some sisters. He declared that a prophet is without honor in
his hometown. King Herod was curious about Jesus and asked about his identity.
Some said he was one of the prophets or John the Baptist raised from the dead.
Herod killed John after he swore an oath to his daughter at his own birthday
party. The Apostles reported everything to Jesus about what they taught and
did. Jesus wanted to rest with them at a deserted place so they went off, but
the crowds kept gathering. Jesus was moved with pity because the people were
like sheep without a shepherd.
Saints of the Week
Tuesday: John
Bosco, priest (1815-1888), formed his Society to aid children who were
imprisoned. He used Francis de Sales as his inspiration. He taught poor and
working class boys in the evenings wherever it was possible to meet them - in
fields, factories, or homes. A sister community was set up to assist young
girls who were sent to work.
Thursday: The
Presentation of the Lord is the rite by which the firstborn male is
presented in the Temple as an offering to God. It occurs 40 days after the
birth while the new mother is considered ritually unclean. Two church elders,
Simeon and Anna, who represent the old covenant, praise Jesus and warn his
mother that her heart will be pierced as her son will bring the salvation of
many.
Friday: Blase,
bishop and martyr (d. 316), was an
Armenian martyr of the persecution of Licinius. Legends hold that a boy was
miraculously cured by choking to death on a fish bone. Blase's intercession has
been invoked for cures for throat afflictions. The candles presented at
Candlemas the day earlier are used in the rite of the blessings of throats.
Angsar,
bishop (815-865), became a monk to preach to pagans. He
lived at the French Benedictine monastery of New Corbie and was sent to preach
in Denmark and Sweden. He was made abbot and then became archbishop of Hamburg.
He is known as the Apostle of the North because he restored Denmark to the
faith and helped bolster the faith of other Scandinavians.
This Week in Jesuit History
·
Jan 29, 1923. Woodstock scholastics
kept a fire vigil for several months to prevent the Ku Klux Klan from setting
the college on fire.
·
Jan 30, 1633. At Avignon, Fr. John
Pujol, a famous master of novices, died. He ordered one of them to water a dry
stick, which miraculously sprouted.
·
Jan 31, 1774. Fr. General Laurence
Ricci, a prisoner in Castel S Angelo, claimed his liberty, since his innocence
had been fully vindicated. He received from the Papal Congregation the reply
that they would think about it. Pope Clement XIV was said at this time to be
mentally afflicted.
·
Feb 1, 1549. The first Jesuit
missionaries to go to Brazil set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, under Fr. Emmanuel
de Nobrega.
·
Feb 2, 1528. Ignatius arrived in Paris
to begin his program of studies at the University of Paris.
·
Feb 3, 1571. In Florida, the martyrdom
of Fr. Louis Quiros and two novices, shot with arrows by an apostate Indian.
·
Feb 4, 1617. An imperial edict banished
all missionaries from China.
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