Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Gospel Reflection



January 15, 2013
Tuesday – Year of Faith – Weekday
by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez
6:15AM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         
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.

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.

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, in the Gospel today, the evil spirit says, "I know who You are. You are the Holy One of God." And Jesus, then, told the evil spirit to be quiet. He rebuked him.
But isn't it the truth? The evil spirit is saying the truth. Yes, he knows the Son of God. So why? Why did Jesus ask the evil spirit to remain silent about the true plan of God? It is because the evil spirit is not worthy of such a divine plan. The evil spirit is not even part of it.
For us, it is exactly the opposite. We are part of the plan of salvation of God. So, if Jesus told the evil spirit to remain silent, for us, He is telling us to announce it at the rooftop of the world. Jesus is God, and our duty is to be messengers of this great news. Even if we remain silent, the disciples of Christ will announce everywhere His salvation.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us be part of this plan of salvation. Amen.