Daily Readings - Sun Jan 28 2018

¹⁵"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers--it is to him you shall listen--¹⁶just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.'¹⁷And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken.¹⁸I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.¹⁹And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.²⁰But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'

1 Corinthians

Chapter 7

³²I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.³³But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,³⁴and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.³⁵I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

Mark

Chapter 1

²¹And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.²²And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.²³And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,²⁴"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."²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.²⁷And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."²⁸And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound insights into God's guidance and authority. The first reading from Deuteronomy introduces the concept of a prophet, a leader chosen by God to speak His words, fulfilling the people's request to avoid direct divine communication. This prophet is granted authority, with a warning against those who mislead. In 1 Corinthians, Paul discusses the merits of singleness and marriage, advising that singleness allows undivided focus on God, while marriage brings worldly concerns. He offers this guidance for their benefit, encouraging a life dedicated to worship. The Gospel from Mark vividly illustrates Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophetic figure. Teaching with authority, unlike the scribes, Jesus demonstrates His power by casting out an unclean spirit, leaving the crowd in awe. This scene showcases Jesus's divine authority, embodying the prophet Moses foretold. These readings intertwine to emphasize focusing on God's will. Deuteronomy's prophet is realized in Jesus, who teaches with divine authority. Paul's advice on singleness and marriage encourages prioritizing spiritual focus, aligning with Jesus's teachings. In our lives, we are called to trust in God's authority and guidance, whether through prophetic leaders or personal devotion. Let us seek to align our lives with God's will, trusting in His wisdom and authority to navigate our choices and challenges.