Sunday, January 31, 2021 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The lectionary passages are:
— First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
— Psalm 111:1-10
— Second Reading: I Corinthians 8:1-13
— Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
The liturgical color for the day is: Green
It says in the Gospel that he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and that he taught. There was one there with an unclean spirit who called out Jesus. Jesus handles it.
He worshiped. He taught. He dealt with the tough stuff.
He worshiped: We need to continually hear again that God is God, and we are not. We need to come together in worship (and yes, that can be done online) to be in community with each other and to get that larger perspective of how we fit into the universe. What is our place in the cosmos? What is our place in all of existence? How do we stand before God?
We need, at the very least, a weekly check-in on that. We need it in order to be the people God has created us to be.
He taught: It is what we know Jesus did in the synagogue that day and everywhere that he went. He taught. And he taught not only by opening up the Scriptures and telling stories about God and God’s reign in our world, but he taught with his very life.
His life taught in the way that he paid attention to the ones who had been cast aside by the culture. He helped the poor and healed the sick and he took up the cross. His life taught.
He dealt with the tough stuff: COVID-19-101. We have to deal with the tough stuff. Each of us has our own tough stuff in getting through this. I know, without a doubt, my only strength to deal with that tough stuff is Jesus.
He is our strength. He is the one who will help us face it, own it, step up to it, and deal with. No pushing it aside. No ignoring it. No wishing it away. We have to deal—that is the way of our faith. Dealt with it. Handle it in Christ. We are not alone in any of this—he is with us!
Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk