January 24, 2005 - Monday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time

Led By God’s Good Spirit

Readings:
Heb 9:15, 24-28; Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6; Mk 3:22-30

Opening Prayer

God our Father,
you are the origin of all that is good.
Let our heart not be a house divided
between good and evil.
Send us your good Spirit
to enlighten and guide us,
to give us joy and strength
and to follow your Son wherever he leads us
on the road of goodness and service.
We ask you this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction
       Once for all Jesus offered himself, and there came, negatively, the forgiveness of sins, and positively, the new covenant, the new and permanent union of life and love with God. Once and for all, never to be repeated.

First Reading: Heb 9:15, 24-28

So Christ is the mediator of a new covenant or testament. His death made atonement for the sins committed under the old testament, and the promise is handed over to all who are called to the everlasting inheritance.

Christ did not enter some sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself. He is now in the presence of God on our behalf. He had not to offer himself many times, as the High Priest does: he who may return every year, because the blood is not his own. Otherwise he would have suffered many times from the creation of the world. But no; he manifested himself only now at the end of the ages, to take away sin by sacrifice, and, as humans die only once and afterwards are judged, in the same way Christ sacrificed himself once to take away the sins of the multitude. There will be no further question of sin when he comes again to save those waiting for him.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

R (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Gospel Introduction:
     It is strange and really sounds like ill will when the Scribes ascribe the good that Jesus does, especially that he drives out demons, to the power of Satan, the prince of demons. Should they not have recognized that God’s Spirit was working in Jesus? In messianic times the Jews expected the Spirit of God to overcome the spirits of evil, and in Jesus the good Spirit was visibly active. We too have to make our option between God’s Spirit and the spirits of evil that make us sin. If we hear the word of God and act accordingly, we let God’s Spirit overcome evil in and around us.

Gospel Reading: Mk 3:22-30

The teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul: the chief of the demons helps him to drive out demons."

Jesus called them to him and began teaching them by means of stories or parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a nation is divided by civil war, that nation cannot stand. If a family divides itself into groups, that family will not survive. In the same way, if Satan has risen against himself and is divided, he will not stand; he is finished. No one can break into the house of the Strong one in order to plunder his goods, unless he first ties up the Strong one. Then indeed, he can plunder his house.

"Truly, I say to you, every sin will be forgiven humankind, even insults to God, however numerous. But whoever slanders the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven: he carries the guilt of his sin forever."

This was their sin when they said, "He has an evil spirit in him."

Commentary

NOW the teachers of the Law go after him and say that he is 'possessed by Beelzebul, the chief of demons', in fact he uses this Beelzebul to cast out demons! Not very logical. And Jesus points out that if a nation is divided by civil war it falls, just as if Satan is divided in his house, he'll fall too. The word Satan means 'the hinderer'-whoever or whatever keeps human beings from being the beloved children of God. Or here, Jesus calls him the Strong One and he as much says that he has bound the Strong One by his words and presence in the world.

Who do we hinder from living and acting as the children of God? Who do we keep from living in the freedom of their baptisms? Do we find it easier to blame someone who does good and tells the truth, exposing us for what we are rather than taking to heart what all can see about us? Holy Spirit lay us bare and let us know ourselves in the light of Jesus.

General Intercessions

–   That all the Churches that believe in Christ may overcome their division and become one in the Lord who brought them pardon and peace, we pray:

–  That all those who are hardened by sin may be touched by the Spirit of the Lord to repent and to change their ways, we pray:

–  That our communities may accept those who have erred, defend the weak and the victims of injustice and bear witness to the mercy of God, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Father,
bread and wine are the simple signs
whereby your Son makes himself present
to the people you have chosen.
Fill these offerings with your Spirit,
that they may become your Son.
Fill us with the same Holy Spirit,
that he make us the people
that belongs to you and serves you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
through your Holy Spirit
we have heard the words of your Son.
Let them become through the same Spirit
words that set us afire
with zeal for your kingdom
and with love for one another.
Let it be a fire that cannot be extinguished.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

A country or a family or a community that is divided cannot stand. We should all be led by the same Spirit. That does not mean that we have all to be the same, like clones, for the Spirit is rich enough with his variety of gifts. May God pour out his good Spirit on us and bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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