Mass Readings
Reading 1 – Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm – Ps 94:1-2,6-9
Reading 2 – St Paul to Corinthians 7:32-35
Gospel – Mark 1:21-28
Gospel Reflection
Fr Jude Johnson, Assistant Priest
It has been more than a week as I moved into Christ the Light Parish. Over the week Fr. Martin and I spend hours and hours talking about the life of the Parish which captures her history to people and challenges to blessings. At the same time, a lot of activities have gone on: meeting with parishioners before and after Masses, concelebrating at Whittlesea live streaming Mass for all our school staff from St Mary’s Whittlesea, St Joseph’s Mernda and St Paul the Apostle Doreen, RCIA class, and staff meeting and many more. This is the summary of my weekly life after week one at the Parish.
This Sunday Gospel tells us that Jesus visits the village of Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The gospel gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ everyday life which includes preaching at the Synagogue, healing the possessed man and performing many other healing miracles. This event is also the first public appearance of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark [like me in the parish]. Interestingly the Gospel does not describe what Jesus has taught at the Synagogue except how he taught, that is, with authority. This means that Jesus explained the Scripture with complete confidence and he answered with authority when the people questioned him. His divine authority is not to rule or control people but to set them free. Moreover, the Gospel records the impact that Jesus had made to the listeners as they were amazed because his teaching is extraordinary.
Although we were not present when Jesus proclaimed his Gospel, we can hear this same Word of God in the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts. As we hear a day in Jesus’ life and ministry in our Gospel today, let us take an opportunity to look at our life. In what area of life today do I most need the ‘freeing’ message of Jesus?