Newsletter —Fourth Sunday of the Year B—28th January 2024
Racial Justice Sunday
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Our First Reading today is taken from Deuteronomy 18:15-20: Moses tells the people that God will raise up for them a new prophet.
The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 95: A song of praise to the Lord.
The Second Reading is 1 Corinthians 7:32-35: Paul expresses his concern that those who are married are more likely to face the distractions of earthly life than those who are celibate.
Our Gospel Reading this Sunday is Mark 1:21-28: Jesus heals a man with an unclean spirit and his fame spreads throughout Galilee.
A man possessed with an unclean spirit calls out to Jesus. As we see in this example and throughout Mark’s Gospel, the spirits and demons seem to know Jesus and are often fearful of him. In fact, they seem to understand Jesus’ identity better than his disciples.
As we will read again and again in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus orders the spirit to be quiet and drives the unclean spirit out of the man. Jesus’ ability to heal those possessed by demons is an indication of his power over evil.
We are missing the point that Mark is trying to make in this Gospel, however, if we try to explain away the healing work of Jesus. The crowds see in Jesus’ cure of the possessed man further affirmation of his authority. Jesus’ power to heal gives greater credence to his teaching. Jesus impresses the crowds through his words, which are manifested with power in his deeds. Mark’s Gospel tells us that because of the authority with which he healed, Jesus’ fame spread throughout all of Galilee.
Blessing of Candles – Friday 2nd February we will have the Blessing of Candles before the 10am Mass.
St Blaise Blessing of throats—on Saturday 3rd February we will have the Blessing of throats at the 10am Masses.
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