FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28

The first reading is from the Book of Deuteronomy. The Book of Deuteronomy is a compilation of teachings, directives, and instructions from Moses, and God’s laws in the previous books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers) that were to guide the people of Israel as they journey to the Promised Land and when they arrive at and settle in the Promised Land. The Book of Deuteronomy is referred to as “second law” or “second copy of the law” (Greek: 'deuteros' – second + 'nomos' – law). Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, so to speak, contain the ‘first law.’

In Deuteronomy chapter 18, verses 9 and 14, Moses instructs the people, “When you come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of the nations there.” “Although these nations whom you are about to dispossess listen to their soothsayers and diviners, the Lord, your God, will not permit you to do so.”

In the first reading, Deuteronomy 18:19, Moses spoke to the people what God said to him: “And the Lord said to me… ‘I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all I command him.’” This statement was a prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ. And when Jesus arrived, and during his transfiguration, God declared, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him” (Luke 9:35).

Today’s gospel is a fulfilment of the first reading. Jesus taught with authority to his people and expelled unclean spirits. He is doing the same today. There is power and authority in his name and his word. “There is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain, to break every chain, to break e-v-e-r-y chaa—iaan” (Song by originally written by Will Reagan). 

The unclean spirits know Jesus and recognize power. The unclean spirits who encountered Jesus in the gospel cried out, “… Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God.” As Christians, do we know Jesus? Do we recognize his power? Many Christians need to humbly admit that the unclean spirits have good something to teach them today!

Deuteronomy 18:19 warns, “Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it.” We are reminded today “not to learn to imitate the abominations of the nations” which have been accepted and practiced, promoted and amplified by godless and Christ-less “soothsayers and diviners” in the form of social and news media, institutions, groups, cultures, politics, economies, psychologies, philosophies, religions, beliefs, theories, ideologies, and so on.

Further, the first reading warns, “But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:20). We know about many false prophets who speak presumptuously and false prophets who speak in the name of “other gods.” We know false prophets who commit all kinds of atrocities and deceive vulnerable and gullible people. God’s judgement is upon them. Jesus says, “False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if that were possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told it to you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘He is in the desert,’ do not go out there; if they say, ‘He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it” (Matthew 24:24-26). Those who are deaf to Jesus’ words will continue to be deceived.

The second reading (1 Corinthians 7:32-35) is a continuation of last Sunday’s second reading (1 Corinthians 7:29-31). What we have, who we are, our relationships, and things of this world must not distract us from “adherence to the Lord.” St. Paul encourages us to be free from anxieties (1 Corinthians 7:32). Are we encumbered with anxieties, and do we have a distracted and divided relationship with God?

In the gospel, “All were amazed and asked one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him’” (Mark 1:27). As Jesus’ followers, we are supposed to have a share of his authority. Jesus promises us, “Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19). What has happened to the authority given to me through God’s words and the Sacraments I have received? Do I still have it, or have I lost it? Who now commands the other? Do I command the unclean spirits, or do the unclean spirits command me?

As we begin a new year, let us surrender our anxieties, distractions, possessions, and uncleanness to Jesus to deliver us. Let us revive or reclaim the authority of believers given to us. Let us reestablish an undivided relationship with God. 

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29:31; Mark 1:14-20

The story of Prophet Jonah, his mission in Nineveh, and the repentance of the people of Nineveh was an illustration to the people of Israel when they returned from the Babylonian captivity. It was an example of the type of repentance that God required of the people of Israel. God used a non-Jewish people as an example for the Israelites. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, an unfriendly country to Israel. This seems to give an insight as to why Jonah resisted God’s call to go to Nineveh to prophecy to them. However, he was forced to go by the means of the fish that swallowed him and dropped him off the coast of Nineveh. And when the people of Nineveh repented and God cancelled the threat of destroying them, Jonah was angry. It appears that Jonah wanted to see the enemies of Israel destroyed. He did not understand God’s plan. Surely, God’s thoughts are not human’s thoughts, neither his ways human’s ways (Isaiah 55:8). Like Jonah, sometimes, we resist God’s way and prefer our own way.

In the first reading, Jonah announced to the people of Nineveh, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.” The reading continues, “When the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” This reading is a warning call for some people. There are people who must change their way of life now or they ruin themselves. St. Paul warns in the second reading, “I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.” The first reading shows us how great God’s mercy is. God forgave the people of Nineveh as soon as they believed in him and turned from their evil way. In the same way, God erases our sinful past and rescues us from the bondage of our ugly past as soon as we repent, believe in him, turn to him, and surrender to him.

St. Paul warns in the second reading, “From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully.” This warning to the Corinthians was because at that time followers of Christ thought that the second coming of Christ was imminent. St. Paul taught the Corinthians that since “the time is running out” and “the world in its present form is passing away,” nothing else should matter to anyone except “adherence to the Lord without distraction” (1 Corinthians 7:35).

This reading speaks to us in a special way. Each person’s world is passing away. It may be sooner or later. Since no one is sure the time of his or her passing away, we are warned to prepare to meet our God any time he calls us. Martin Heidegger is quoted as saying, “As soon as we are born, we are old enough to die.” Jesus says in the gospel, “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” This is a reality that poverty, riches, or any condition must not distract us.

Today’s gospel is St. Mark’s account of the call of Simon, Andrew, James and John. They were fishermen. When Jesus called them, they left everything and followed him. Jesus says, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). We, therefore, pray that more men and women may “abandon their nets,” “their father Zebedee in the boat along with hired men” and become “fishers of men and women.”

Finally, this Sunday, like last Sunday, is about God’s call. For some of us, it may be a warning call to repentance. For some of us, it may be a call to let go. For some of us, it may be a call to new perspective. For some of us, it may be a call to a vocation. For some of us, it may be a call to a responsibility. For some of us, it may be a call to a new height. For some of us, it may be a call to a good cause. For some of us, it may be a call to eternity. Whatever the call is, it is time to stop running like Jonah (Jonah 1:3). It is time to abandon nets, father, and hired men (Mark 1:18, 20). The time of fulfillment has come (Mark 1:14). May God’s grace be sufficient for us to respond positively and generously. And may we follow where He leads. Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19; Psalm 40, 2, 4, 7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20; John 1:35-42

The first reading tells us the story of the call of young Samuel. The second reading is a call to a life of holiness. The gospel reading is about the call of three disciples of Jesus. It is not a mere coincidence that the theme of our celebration and reflection, after the Christmas season, is God’s invitation to us to discipleship. We received so much from the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Now, in the Ordinary Time of the Church’s calendar and in the first month of the new year, is the time to put the graces we received into action.

In the first reading, we see that God did not give up calling Samuel until Samuel answered him. In the same way, God does not give up on us. He continues to send his Spirit to minister to our hearts. We pray for the grace to respond positively to God’s call as Samuel did. Samuel, finally, replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” The reading concludes, “Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.” When we respond positively to God’s call, the result is an intimate relationship with him. Then, we will grow in him, he will be with us, and our words and our actions will have positive effects.

Eli’s patience is amazing! If my steward woke me up three times through the night asking whether I called him, I would be worried that he was hallucinating. Eli teaches us how to be patient during the times we have to go over and over issues we presumed had been resolved. We pray for parents, teachers, vocation directors, spiritual directors, formators, catechists, and pastors of souls that they have the patience, understanding, and wisdom their calling and responsibilities require.

The second reading calls us to a life of holiness. In the reading, St. Paul reminds us that our bodies are members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit purchased at a price, which is the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The current sexual liberation whereby sexual appeal and pleasure are the targets gives little or no regard to moral righteousness. There is so much promotion of sexual appeal and pleasure in adverts, attires, songs, movies, videos, cartoons, books, media outlets, and so on. Even if the world seems to have become comfortable with some unspeakable sexual exhibitions and displays, for us believers, it must not be so. Do we avoid preaching against sexual sins so as not to make the hearers uncomfortable or so as not to offend the world? No. Jesus tells us that although we are in the world, we are not of the world (John 15:19; John 17:14-16). St. Paul writes, “proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient” (2 Timothy 4:2).

In today’s gospel, John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God to Andrew and another disciple of his. The two left John and became disciples of Jesus. Later, Andrew “found his own brother, Simon, and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’…  Then he brought him to Jesus.” John the Baptist and Andrew teach us to show Jesus to others and bring them to him. We do this by our words and actions.

I imagine that Simon must have, proudly, attributed what he became – the leader of the apostles and the first pope - to his brother, Andrew, who took him to Jesus. Is it not to God’s glory if someone attributes his or her blessings to your help? There are instances where people deny help to those they could have helped because they do not want those people’s progress or success.

Someone writes:

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

When we give of ourselves, nothing is truly lost.

When one candle lights another, its light is not diminished.

In fact, the light given off together is greater than the light of one.”

A candle diminishes and disappears as it burns. That is how our life is. Every day, we diminish like a burning candle. It is only a matter of time, we will disappear, and our light goes out. So, let us pass on our light and light up other human candles before we disappear and our light goes out.

To conclude, as God calls us to various vocations, responsibilities, and to repentance, many other voices from the world and the Evil One call us too. The voices from the world and the Evil One are usually voices of discouragement and distraction. We pray for the grace to hear God’s call and the grace to respond like Samuel, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 

When He calls me, I will answer,

When He calls me, I will answer,

When He calls me, I will answer;

I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name.

I'll be somewhere list'ning,

I'll be somewhere list'ning,

I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name.

Oh, I'll be somewhere list'ning,

I'll be somewhere list'ning,

I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name. (Song by Edurado J. Lango)

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD YEAR B, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Ephesians 32-3, 5-; Matthew 2:1-12

The word Epiphany comes from the Greek word ‘epiphania,’ meaning revelation or manifestation. Before the arrival of the Magi (also called the wise men), it was only the shepherds and those the shepherds told who knew about the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:17-18). As we have read in today’s gospel, it was the Magi who announced the birth of Jesus to King Herod and his officials. From then, the news became public. This is one of the reasons why the visit of the Magi is called Epiphany; meaning the disclosure or revelation of the Lord.

Matthew 2:1 informs us that the Magi came from the East to Jerusalem. It has been suggested that the East was, perhaps, within the region of the present-day Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, or Turkey. It is very sad that where Jesus was born and where the Magi came from are among the most troubled parts of the world now. It is very sad that the Middle East, the home of three major world religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, remains in conflict and wars. We pray for peace in the Middle East and around the world.

It has, also, been suggested that the Magi were astronomers who observed stars and other celestial bodies. They saw a spectacular star, which they, rightly, interpreted to signify the birth of a great king. The Magi brought gifts to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gifts, further, reveal who Jesus is: gold symbolizes Jesus as king; frankincense symbolizes Jesus as priest; and myrrh symbolizes Jesus’ death.

The Magi were non-Jews. It was God’s plan that through their visit, the birth of Jesus was, also, revealed to non-Jews. The Magi, no doubt, returned to the East with the news of the birth of Jesus, hence revealing Jesus to the non-Jewish world as well.

It was not only the Magi that saw the spectacular star. Some people saw it, admired it, but it meant nothing to them. Some people saw the star, knew that the star signified something special but did nothing about it. Only the Magi, after seeing the star, followed the star until it stopped over the place Jesus was born. The Magi’s journey took them months through hills, deserts, and rivers. Not even Herod could stop their mission. This means that the level of perseverance and passion determines the level of success. The Magi teach us that by determination and perseverance, we will reach the ‘star’ God sets before us.

The celebration of today’s feast is our prayer that we may experience a new revelation and manifestation of Jesus in our lives. St. Ignatius asks us to pray, “To come to know Christ more intimately, love him more ardently and follow him more closely.” Someone refers to this spiritual state as “wrapped up in Jesus.” In this state, we can meaningfully sing the beautiful song:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning,

Jesus at the noontime,

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down. … 

(Song by Rev. Jacob Knapp, 1845)

The Magi’s journey which took them months through hills, deserts, and rivers before they found the baby Jesus teach us that the Christian journey of knowing Jesus, loving him, and following him does not come easy. It demands enduring faith and perseverance.

We pray for the manifestation of the presence and the power of Jesus in our desires, decisions, and plans. We pray that the Spirit of Jesus opens the eyes of our minds and hearts and reveals to us “things hidden from the wise and learned” (Matthew 11:25).

The Magi brought gifts to Jesus. What gift do we bring to Jesus in the New Year? The greatest gift we can bring to Jesus is to become stewards of God’s graces to our neighbors. By so doing, we become co-partners of Jesus, as St. Paul challenges us in the second reading (Ephesians 3:2, 6). We pray that through us, many people will receive God’s graces and blessings in the New Year.

The birth of Jesus made the angels to sing, and the shepherds to rejoice, and the Magi to come all the way from the East in wonder and adoration; but it made King Herod to become deeply troubled; and he, immediately, planned to kill Jesus. Of course, Jesus was not to become an earthly king and did not come to take over Herod’s temporal kingdom. Herod represents the worst and extreme cases of jealousy and envy. There are ‘herods’ who are deeply saddened by other people’s ‘star,’ and they make efforts to destroy the ‘star.’ We are invited to become stewards of God graces and blessings, not tools that destroy God’s blessings. May God always keep our ‘stars’ shining and shield them from ‘herod’s’ forces of destruction!

Lastly, the Magi did not return to Herod, as Herod requested. They listened to God’s warning and departed by another way. We pray that we may have listening ears and seeing eyes to discover the other ways God has opened for us in the New Year. Amen.