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Truth in Love
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 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.
Opening Prayer: Lord, bless me as I come before you in these moments of silence to reflect on the Scriptures. Teach me as you taught these listeners so long ago.
Encountering Christ:
- Amazed by Christ’s Words: When Christ spoke in the temple that day, the Jews knew he was teaching in truth with authority. They were amazed, but they were unsure what it meant for their lives. Ultimately, as we know, the words of Jesus would revolutionize their lives—and ours. As we pray with these words of Scripture, are we baffled like the Jews were, wondering what needs to change, or are we overjoyed because we have encountered Christ and received the grace to know him and love his holy will?
- Amazed by Christ’s Power: In this Gospel, we see Christ’s power over what is seen and unseen as he cast out a demon and brought peace to the man. There is no evil–seen or unseen–that Christ cannot subdue when we believe in him and accept his forgiveness of our sins. Yet, Christ awaits an invitation. He won’t barge in and take over unless we hand ourselves over in all of our weakness to the Great Physician.
- Christ’s Identity: The evil spirit knew exactly who Christ was—“The Holy One of God.” In the face of Christ’s rebuke, the spirit had no choice but to obey the Son of God and come out of the man. No one else present, however, seemed to know Christ’s true identity. They had heard Christ teach and watched him work miracles, but they weren’t certain who he was. We, too, hear Christ teach us through the Church, and we witness miracles like transubstantiation weekly and sometimes daily. Yet, our understanding of Christ’s identity can remain a fact in our head and not a reality in our heart. Christ wants to be known and loved for who he is: the second person of the Trinity, creator, redeemer, and sanctifier. May we strive each day to better know and love Christ the way he loves each one of us.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, thank you for your word and your power. Deepen my understanding of your truest identity so that I may love you from the heart, with all my strength.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will spend an extra five minutes in silence, praying to deepen my love for you.
For Further Reflection: “May nothing distract me from you, neither noise nor diversions. O my Master, I would so love to live with you in silence. But what I love above all is to do your will, and since you want me still to remain in the world, I submit with all my heart for love of you. I offer you the cell of my heart; may it be your little Bethany. Come rest there; I love you so…I would like to console you, and offer myself to you as a victim. O my Master, for you, with you” (St. Elizabeth of the Trinity).
Peggy Morris lives in Severna Park, Maryland, with her husband Leo. They have been married forty-five years, and have three adult children and five grandchildren. Peggy has been a member of Regnum Christi since 1999.
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