Reflection
How do you react to the Word of God? How does the Word of God impact your daily life? Is your life a beacon of light and hope to others? These are the questions to consider when reflecting on today’s Mass readings.
Our Gospel today recounts when Jesus first went to Capernaum and began teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Those listening to Him were “astonished” by how He taught with authority. The casting out of the demon was visible proof that Jesus’ words had the power to heal. Sacred Scripture, the Living Word of God, has the same power to heal us from the demons in our life. While we may not be physically “possessed” by demons, our personal demon is our tendency toward sin and our weakness to the temptation of Satan in our life. Sacred Scripture is not just a collection of “feel good” bible stories. Sacred Scripture is the very power of God to heal us.
The power of God’s Word, especially when heard and explained at Mass, is the “light” that can help us conquer sin and death. Don’t allow Satan to deceive you into thinking that you don’t need to go to Mass, or it’s okay to show up late and miss one or more of the Mass readings. Go to Mass each week in anticipation that hearing God’s Word will cast out the demons of sin and despair in your life. Listen with the full attention of your mind and your heart, and the Light of Christ will fill you.
St. Paul, in writing to the Thessalonians, knew that they had received the Good News of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He was encouraging them to not fear the darkness that was in the world around them. The light they carried, which was their life with Christ himself, would overcome the darkness. He encouraged them to spread this light to others. We are called to do the same. But we must first live each day with Christ as our guiding Light. For we cannot give to others what we do not have ourselves.
Lastly, our Responsorial Psalm paints a beautiful picture of what it is like to be a “child of the light.” When we fully accept the light of Christ in our life, there is nothing to fear, no one for whom we should be afraid. If we seek to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life, we can be confident and say, “I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.”
There is no greater joy than to live in Christ and believe in all that He promises us.
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
Are you ready to fully follow the Lord Jesus and live your life according to His Word?