Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time B. January 29 2006. Our Lady of Grace 7:30, 11:30 and 6PM. Deuteronomy 18:15-20. I Corinthians 7:32-35. Mark 1:21-28.
Have you ever noticed that dogs do not like to be stared at, eye to eye? Intense eye contact is a sign of the dominance and control of the one doing the starring. I have watched Shadrack, my male sheep dog, walk up to his female dog companion and place his nose on the end of her nose. He stares directly into her eyes until she begins to whine and cry. He seems to know that he doesn’t have to do anything more. His intense stare and his huge size are a threatening message that leaves the young female dog shaking. Many big brothers know how this works too; when a little brother or sister begins to cry they say, “But Mom, I wasn’t doing anything. I was just looking at them.” They were bugging and threatening with their eyes.
Moses spoke to the people saying: “The Lord will raise up
for you a prophet like me from your own people. Listen to him. This
is exactly what you requested of the Lord your God when you said, “Let us never
again hear the voice of the Lord, our God. Let us never see the great
fire of God’s presence any more, or we will die. “The Lord answered. “This was
well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like themselves and I will
put my words into his mouth.”
Looking directly into the face of God and experiencing the
raging fire of either God’s anger or God’s love would be an overwhelming
experience, overloading our circuits. God has chosen to influence and
guide us in ways that are less terrifying and controlling, and more inviting
and empowering. God has chosen to show us his face in a human face – the
face of Jesus his Son. God’s purpose is to lead us, not overwhelm us. God
gently leads us by showing his face to us as a child in
Even though Jesus was human like we are, the devil
recognized that behind the face of Jesus and within the heart of Jesus was the
full power and authority of God. The devil said, “What have you to do
with us, Jesus of
There is a new exorcism movie out these days that very
graphically pictures the battle for the soul of a women possessed by the
devil. The battle is gruesome, hard and ugly. It is a movie filled
with
God continues to show his face and to give real authority to very ordinary people in the Church. God shows his face through the authority of parents who refuse to wrestle with their children knowing that they exercise real authority and wisdom with them. In most cases, ineffective parents wrestle with their children or even avoid them. Effective parents exercise strong and gentle authority. God gives real authority to husbands and wives who speak to one another with a care and a wisdom that comes from God. God shows his authority over business and politics through men and woman who take the grace of God very seriously in fulfilling their responsibility with God-given authority.
Today we celebrate the beginning of Catholic Schools week. We recognize the great gift that teachers and school administrators are in our parish school and in other Catholic, public and private schools. Teachers that speak and act with authority have shaped our lives as adults and continue to form and bless a new generation of students. Teaching is an awesome profession and our parish school is a gem and a great blessing. We are grateful that we have seen the face of God in our parents and in the many teachers who have blessed our lives. I am happy to invite Nancy Perrine, the chairperson of our parish school board, to talk to us about Our Lady of Grace School.
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