Homily - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 28th January 2024 – Year B

Homily

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday 28th January 2024 – Year B

The theme from today’s readings is about the authority of Jesus as the Word of God. What he says provides a whole new teaching to the people of Capernaum. They had not seen this before in their scribes and priests. They even witnessed it when Jesus ordered the unclean spirits to leave the man, without saying who Jesus is. The unclean spirits knew exactly who Jesus was and feared he would destroy them; they recognised that Jesus is the Holy One of God and that they had to obey his every word. There were consequences for not doing so.

Psalm 94 reminds us to listen to the voice of God and not to harden our hearts as the Israelites had done at Massah and Meribah. For forty years the Israelites had travelled through the desert known as the Wilderness of Sin. Everyday God had provided them with manna. God had promised that if they followed his Words and did as he said, the people would be looked after and would never be inflicted the same as the Egyptians. Each day they were provided for, and on the sixth day they received double the amount so they could rest on the Sabbath. However, some people went out to collect more, disobeying God.

When the Israelites neared Rephidim the manna stopped, and the people complained because they found no water. They quarrelled with Moses, even threatening to stone him, questioning whether God was with them. The Lord said to Moses to take the rod used to help the Israelites escape from Egyptians, through the sea, and use it to strike the rock at the base of Mount Horeb. When he did water flowed out to quench the Israelite’s thirst.

However, Moses in his zeal struck the rock twice, instead of once. God felt Moses did not trust him enough, and this action meant Moses was not allowed to lead the Israelites into Canaan. The place was called Massah because the people tested God, and Meribah because they quarrelled with Moses.

On Mount Horeb, Moses had been called when God appeared in a burning bush. Again, a short time after providing water from the rock at the base of Mount Horeb, God called Moses up the mountain, also known as Mount Sinai, to receive the Ten Commandments. While he was away, the people lost faith, carved idols and worshipped false gods, frustrating Moses when he returned. God had shown them the way that their lives would not be full of anxieties and stress. All they had to do was to devote themselves to the Lord.

Moses destroyed the first set of tablets as the people had sinned against God, but Moses asked for them to be forgiven. The Lord told Moses, the people’s sins prevented him from being among them, as his presence would annihilate them. Moses set up a Tent of Meeting outside the Israelite camp so he could consult with God. Each time Moses entered the tent, the people could see a Pillar of Smoke come down. Moses had the Lord’s favour and asked to see his Glory. He was led up Mount Horeb, to a place where God could shield Moses with his hands as his glory went by and Moses would remain alive. God renewed the Covenant with Moses, and when he descended the sacred Mountain, all the Israelite saw the radiance of Moses skin and were afraid.

In Deuteronomy, Moses reminded the Israelites that when they entered the promise land, they must not follow the practices of the people who lived there, who sacrificed their children, consulted mediums, and other things detestable to God. The Lord promised the Israelites a leader from their own people who would proclaim the Word of God. This prophecy also tells how God will be with His people, and through this person he will speak to them. They are told to listen to what he has to say to be saved.

Jesus is the embodiment of the Word. God made flesh who lived among us. Though we are all sinners, it is through God’s grace, a gift freely given that we are cleansed through the blood of Christ. The Gospel of Mark witnesses the authority Jesus had been given, who could command unclean spirits and they would obey.

St. Paul, who we celebrated his conversion last Thursday 25th January, had originally persecuted the church, but when he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, he turned his whole way of life around to simply follow Jesus and believed. This was only possible through God’s grace given to him. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul encourages us to devote our lives to the Lord, whether we are married or single, and not be worried by the affairs of this world. And like Moses we will be shielded from what can be destructive in our lives.

Today, we are encouraged to listen to Our Lord’s voice, and not harden our hearts. Amen.