Homily for Tuesday of 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS OVER EVIL
By: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
Homily for Tuesday January 11 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
1 Samuel 1:9-20
1 Samuel 2:1,4-8
Mark 1:21-28
*INTRODUCTION*
Jesus teaches with authority because He is both the Truth and the Good and God. He is the One who has the words of eternal life. He has been at the Father’s side from all eternity. He has come to teach us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.We are called today to listen with hearts of faith to the simple message that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Samuel, we heard how the Lord helped Hannah, Samuel’s mother as she sought the Lord’s help after she had always been teased and bullied by her husband’s other wife, Peninnah in her barrenness and inability to bear a child for her beloved husband Elkanah. The Lord has heard Hannah’s prayers and answered her with the gift of a son. That son was to be the great prophet and the last Judge over the people of God before the days of the Kings.
*FROM TODAY’S GOSPEL READING*
In today’s Gospel Jesus encountered a man with an unclean spirit. Jesus was recognized by him as the Holy One of God. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit which came out of the man after a convulsion. People who witnessed what Jesus did were astounded and questioned who Jesus was. They were awed by Jesus’ teaching which came across with authority. There were many prophets and teachers at the time. But none equalled the authority which Jesus showed.
*OUR TAKEAWAY MESSAGE FOR TODAY*
As we enter into this Ordinary Time, let us all not make our lives be truly ordinary or even mundane. This time of the Ordinary season is not meant for us to excuse ourselves from any actions befitting of being good and faithful followers of Christ. Instead, this is the time for us to do whatever we can to show our love for Him, to be exemplary in our actions and deeds, in the smallest of things so that all those who witness our actions and interact with us may come to know more of the Lord.
*CONCLUSION*
May God be with us all, and may He empower us all to remain faithful to Him, always and at all times. May God bless us all.
*Let Us Recite 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be To The Father for the eternal rest of Fr Collins Chansa, our dearly priest from the Diocese of Ndola in Zambia who died yesterday. May he rest in the peace of God*
*SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS*
1. COMMENTARY NOTES FROM THE AFRICAN BIBLE
2. PeterCanisius Michael David Kang Daily Homilies.