Daily Readings - Sun Jan 28 2024
Deuteronomy
15The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;16According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.17And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.18I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.19And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.20But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
1 Corinthians
32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
Mark
21And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.22And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.26And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter themes of divine authority, spiritual focus, and the call to listen to God’s voice. The first reading from Deuteronomy speaks of God’s promise to raise up a prophet like Moses, a leader who will speak God’s words to His people. This prophet will have the authority to guide the people, and those who refuse to listen will face the consequences. The passage emphasizes the importance of heeding God’s messengers and the gravity of rejecting His word. The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts the focus to the Christian life, where Paul encourages believers to live undivided in their devotion to God. He highlights the challenges of being torn between worldly concerns and spiritual priorities, urging us to seek a life of purity and single-minded service to the Lord.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophet promised in Deuteronomy. Jesus teaches with authority, not like the scribes, and demonstrates His power by casting out an unclean spirit. This episode shows Jesus as the Holy One of God, who commands even the forces of evil to obey Him. Together, these readings remind us that God speaks to us through His prophets and through His Son, Jesus Christ. They call us to listen with faith, to live with undivided hearts, and to trust in God’s power to transform our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I listening to God’s voice in my life? Am I allowing His word to guide me, or am I distracted by the cares of the world? Let us strive to live with the kind of focus and devotion that Paul describes, seeking to please God above all else. And when we encounter the forces of darkness in our lives, let us remember Jesus’ authority and trust in His power to set us free. May we heed the call to follow Him with courage and fidelity, knowing that He is the Holy One who speaks to us and acts in our lives.