March 11, 2018 — Fourth Sunday of Lent

2 CHR 36: 14-16, 19-23; PS 137: 1-6; EPH 2: 4-10; JN 3: 14-21

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, is what is called Laetare Sunday. Most of us are quite accustomed to the Mass being conducted in our native tongue, and we may have lost track of the fact that Latin is still the official language of the Church. On occasion Latin reasserts itself. This Sunday is one of those times as Laetare means “Rejoice” in Latin. In the Introit to the Mass (the entrance antiphon) it begins Laetare, Jerusalem (“Rejoice, Jerusalem!”)

The actual midpoint of Lent occurred this past Thursday, and this day has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, when we sort of lessen the soberness normally attached to Lent. You may notice some changes in the church itself in terms of environment, and priests and deacons have the option of wearing pink or rose vestments rather than purple or violet. This Sunday has a corresponding day during Advent called Gaudete Sunday. The point of both these days is providing us with encouragement in the midst of our penitential seasons.

As part of this more upbeat attitude and approach to our celebrations of Mass this weekend, there is a focus on salvation and redemption, which is the reason we have to “rejoice.”

There are two Books of Chronicles — First Chronicle and Second Chronicle. Although Chronicles tends to repeat much of what has gone before in the Bible, the writer (the chronicler) brings a different approach to some aspects. The material of Chronicles lists genealogies from Adam to King Saul and covers the death of Saul, the reign of King David, the reign of King Solomon, and from the division of the monarchy into the northern and southern kingdoms to the end of the Babylonian exile.

Our First Reading comes from the final chapter of Second Chronicles, so it includes the beginning of the Babylonian Exile (607-586 B.C.). The chronicler spent a lot of time addressing the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem (thus the statement Laetare, Jerusalem or “Rejoice, Jerusalem”). The final verses of today’s readings are indeed the closing of Chronicles. Chronicles points out to the Jewish people, and to us also, that they are strongly connected to God’s overall plan. “Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up (return to Jerusalem) and may his God be with him.” The people were released from exile by King Cyrus of Persia in the first year of his reign. Where the Books of Kings seems to be centered on stern moral judgments, Chronicles is essentially a book of hope. That is why we rejoice. Christ’s saving grace gives us hope during this time of Lent.

St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, our Second Reading, reminds us “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God.” What a reason to rejoice. God loves us even when we are not lovable. He loves us even when we do not give Him a reason to do so.

We are also reminded that God created each of us. In this same reading St. Paul declares, “for we are his (God’s) handiwork.” In the original Greek the word translated as “handiwork” is poiema (ποίημα). Another meaning of the word is considered by some scholars to be “masterpiece.” The word poiema is also the root word for “poem” and “poetry.” What a joyous thought for us to consider and appreciate! We, each and every one of us, are God’s masterpiece, His poem. That is a reason to celebrate, but it is also a reason for us to be doing things during Lent to make us more that way.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) There are well more than 30,000 verses in the Bible as we know it, but this particular verse has been held forward as the most succinct declaration of the entire Gospel message. Yet, we may dissect all the meanings too much, but because of its brevity and its power it is worthy of a close look. “God so loved the world…” This includes all of us, the entire world; it does not limit this love to a particular group or location. “He gave…” That is what God does; He gives. We are the recipients. Stewardship is understanding that is the case, and striving to share some of those gifts.

“…so that everyone believes.” This is much more than an intellectual conviction. It means to trust in God, to rely on God, and to cling to God in many ways. That is also at the basis of a stewardship way of life. We respond to God by becoming disciples and placing our total trust in Him. “…might have eternal life.” The concept of eternity is beyond our ability to comprehend as humans. This is much more than living forever; it means living with God, in His glory forever. That is what we all strive for; that is why we do what we do always, not just during this Lent. That also is a reason to “rejoice.”

March 4, 2018 — Third Sunday of Lent

EX 20: 1-17; PS 19: 8-11; 1 COR 1: 22-25; JN 2: 13-25

There is no doubt we are in the midst of Lent based on the readings on this Third Sunday of Lent. From the Ten Commandments, which compose our First Reading from Exodus, to St. Paul’s discussion of the wisdom of God in the Second Reading, to Jesus’ actions at the Temple as reported in the Gospel of John, we are reminded of what Lent is truly all about.

Lent should be a time of reflection for us, about how we can improve in living our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ and as His disciples, but also about hope in God’s enduring promises of love and forgiveness. After all, God looks for a heart that is tender and is adaptable to God’s word. Lent is a time to take our spiritual journey a little deeper. It should not be about “beating up” on ourselves, but about being honest and asking God to forgive us and help us.

The First Reading from Exodus presents the Ten Commandments as God handed them down to us. In our secular-based society, the idea of a God-based moral code seems to have become less popular. There is a tendency that a moral code should be based upon each individual’s inner sense of what is right or wrong, what is good or bad, but not on a standard set by God.

We need God to morally instruct and guide us. Though these principles resonate with the human conscience (both individually and collectively), they are certainly not the only influence upon our thinking and behavior. We need to know that there is a God in heaven who expects certain moral behavior and that there are consequences from obeying or disobeying these commands. It is important for us to note the order of the Commandments. In truth one could give an entire homily on each of the Commandments, but the main thing is to take note that the first four Commandments have to do with our attitudes toward God, and our conduct in relationship to God. The last six have to do with how we relate to and conduct ourselves toward one another.

The portion of St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians which is our Second Reading is not very lengthy. As is often the case nonetheless, it is filled with a wisdom and understanding of its own. To the Jewish people the idea of a Messiah translated into power, splendor, and triumph. To them “crucified” meant weakness, defeat, and humiliation. This is what St. Paul preaches throughout his writings.

A story is told of a church which inscribed the following over their entrance: “We preach Christ crucified.” However, as time passed, they seemed to lose their passion for the Lord. Ivy began to grow over the entranceway covering part of the message. It then read “We preach Christ.” After awhile it read only “We preach.” Finally it said simply “We.” Today many churches have become mere social gatherings which are not about God and certainly not about Christ crucified. Our faith is not about “we” but about God. Lent is a time for us to appreciate that and embrace the fact that as Catholics we are blessed with the foundations and the meanings of our faith. As Paul says in today’s reading, “…the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

We have indicated previously how the Gospel of John is quite different from the other three Gospels (the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke). John focuses on the final days of Christ. He gives us fewer stories, but what he does offer is rich in detail. Scholars, as is often the case, do not agree on when the story of Jesus’ cleansing the temple actually occurred. It appears early in John’s Gospel, evidently at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, but just prior to his Crucifixion in the synoptic gospels.

This particular passage from the Gospel of John is often called “the cleansing of the temple.” Cleansing was part of the Passover celebration, just as it is part of our Lenten journeys. What we do at this time needs to result in a cleansing of our consciences and our souls. What we do now and what we commit to doing now should be part of this cleansing process. That includes conversion — changing our lives if necessary, and certainly participating in confession, the sacrament of reconciliation.

February 25, 2018 — Second Sunday of Lent

GN 22: 1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18; PS 116: 10, 15-19; ROM 8: 31B-34; MK 9: 2-10

The absolute first verse of our First Reading from the Book of Genesis is, “God put Abraham to the test.” Is that not what Lent is all about for each of us? We are being “put to the test.” Although we are less than two weeks into our Lenten journey, how are we doing? Have we even made an effort to let the Lord know that we are being tested? Have we set goals? What have we done to change the way we live?

One of the great gifts we have received, and it is also a challenge, is that God has granted us “free will.” That means we choose the direction we are going to go; this is a time when we should reflect on what we have and what we need to change. Someone once said, “Lent is a time for spiritual ‘spring cleaning’.” What are the habits we need to eliminate from our lives? What are the behavioral patterns that make us less than what a Christian should do? That is what we need to address.

The First Reading from the Book of Genesis speaks of, as mentioned, the test to which Abraham was placed. It may seem dramatic and excessive to us, but the truth is that it involves trust in God. That total trust is tough for us most of the time. Yet, as we see in the First Reading, Abraham passes it with room to spare. God is not evil or vindictive, but He is interested in how we use our “free will” and how we respond to the challenges offered us. This time, Lent, is the time for us to step up and to respond as Abraham did. God says to Abraham, “I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” It was God’s willingness to give to us His beloved Son that has provided us with salvation.

In his letter to the Romans, our Second Reading, St Paul tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not also give us everything else along with Him?” God’s gift to us in His Son Jesus Christ might be considered the ultimate gift. Having received that, how can we think that the Lord will not give us other gifts, smaller gifts?

Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of God. It is this gift, this understanding, which allows us to trust God to the same extent that Abraham did. Yet, is this part of what we see as our Lenten journey and effort? Do we truly incorporate God’s love for us into everything we do, and everything we try to do? We can make all the lists and goals we wish during this Lenten period, but at the base of it all has to be trust in God and a willingness to adjust our lives to pursue holiness.

The Gospel recounts the Transfiguration, that moment when the Lord revealed to us just a glimpse of what Heaven is all about. Of course, we cannot even completely conceive of that (nor could Peter, James, and John). Nevertheless, that is what is very much at the basis of what our efforts and concentration should be during this Lenten season. We must take care not to think of the transfiguration as being a bright light on Jesus. This is not a light coming to Jesus from the outside; it involves a change from the inside. The change, although it may appear to be on the outside, really comes from the inside.

That is what we need to be striving for in our faith lives, and particularly during this Lent. We need to strive to change from within. That is what really allows us to be the disciples we need to be, and to experience the conversion (change) we need to undergo.

February 18, 2018 — First Sunday of Lent

GN 9: 8-15; PS 25: 4-9; 1 PT 3: 18-22; MK 1: 12-15

From the Scriptural Readings on this First Sunday of Lent it should be clear to us that Lent has begun. From a reminder that God has made a covenant with us in the First Reading from Genesis to St. Peter’s reference to that in his letter to Jesus’ 40 days in the desert as explained in the Gospel of St. Mark we should know that it is time for us to pursue our Lenten disciplines.

Our Lent is also 40 days in length, beginning this past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, and ending on Holy Thursday, March 29, at the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The three facets of our Lenten experience are traditionally prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This is to be a time of spiritual preparation for Easter for us.

The major point made in the First Reading from the Old Testament Book of Genesis is God’s covenant. In this reading God declares a covenant with Noah, his family, and all their descendants, which is effect with all humankind, including us. There are many covenants described in the Bible, but this covenant, known as the Noahic Covenant, is unique in that it applies to all humanity. In this covenant God promises never again to destroy all life on earth, and He creates the rainbow as the sign of this “everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” Every time we see a rainbow, we should remember the faithfulness of God and every one of His promises. He even says His covenant of peace with us is just as sure as His covenant with Noah and all generations.

Normally a covenant is an agreement between two parties, in this case God and humankind. However, because this covenant is “divinely imposed” makes it plain to us that there is no room for negotiation on our part. We either accept or reject this covenant. Accepting it means working to fulfill God’s expectations. That is part of what Lent is all about for us.

Often with the Letters of St. Paul it is clear to whom he is writing (e.g., Philippians, Ephesians, Corinthians, etc.). However, it is not clear as to the intended readers for St. Peter’s two letters. At one point he states that he is writing to God’s elect “scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” The basic keynote purpose of the letters is “hope.” Peter is writing to encourage the Christian community to live in accordance with the hope they have received through Christ. He returns to this declamation throughout his two letters.

In our Second Reading from the First Letter of Peter, he says, “Christ suffered for our sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.” Is that not what should be happening to us now and throughout Lent? We are to be lead to God in more and better ways. Peter makes reference to Noah and thus implies the covenant that God has with us. Nevertheless, in fulfilling that covenant we have to do something also.

We might say it is all about restoring and strengthening our relationship with God. What we do during Lent and the efforts we make and the disciplines we practice all should have that intention. Peter paints a picture for us in this reading. He points out that Noah’s salvation was connected to water, just as our salvation is connected with the water of our Baptism. We are fond of using the term “Baptismal call.” The waters of the flood washed away sin and brought a new world, with a fresh start in the eyes of God. Now is the time for us to accept our Baptism as a fresh start from the old to the new. We have several weeks during Lent to begin that process.

Our connection with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is similar to the story about a little boy flying a kite that flew so high he could no longer see it. An observer said to him, “How do you know it is still up there?” The boy replied “I can feel the pull.” Lent is a time for us to “feel the pull.” We may not see Jesus in Heaven, but we need to feel Him pulling us toward Him.

In the Gospel from St. Mark we hear, “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for 40 days.” It is obvious where our 40 days of Lent come from. But 40 is a recurring theme in the Bible. In Noah’s flood it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years. It was a time of “testing” for Jesus. Lent is a time of testing for us. Everything we are called to do is to bring us the ideas of patience, sacrifice, self-discipline, commitment, and, as Peter implies, hope.

February 11, 2018 — Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

LV 13: 1-2, 44-46; PS 32: 1-2, 5, 11; 1 COR 10:31 – 11: 1; MK 1: 40-45

Lent begins for us Catholics on Feb. 14. Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. In the desire to renew the liturgical practices of the Church, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican Council II stated, “The two elements which are especially characteristic of Lent — the recalling of baptism or the preparation for it, and penance — should be given greater emphasis in the liturgy and in liturgical catechesis. It is by means of them that the Church prepares the faithful for the celebration of Easter, while they hear God’s word more frequently and devote more time to prayer” (no. 109). The word Lent itself is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words lencten, meaning “Spring,” and lenctentid, which literally means not only “Springtide” but also was the word for “March,” the month in which the majority of Lent falls.

Our readings on this Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time more or less serve as an introduction and preparation for Lent. Our First Reading from the Old Testament Book of Leviticus has explanations of and references to leprosy. Leprosy is a disease we may know about and may hear about, but it is largely unknown to us. Because of modern drugs and treatments, leprosy is almost unknown in the western world – the United States’ last two leper colonies have been shut down for many years now. But worldwide there are some 15 million lepers, almost all of them in third-world nations.

In Jesus’ time, once the diagnosis of leprosy was confirmed, everything changed for the leper. They lived in a perpetual state of mourning and in a perpetual state of public disgrace (he shall… cry “Unclean! Unclean!”). Furthermore, they lived in a perpetual state of isolation (“he shall dwell alone.”). As stringent as all this was, eventually the Jews went further. In the days of Jesus many Jews thought two things about a leper: “You are the walking dead and you deserve this because this is the punishment of God against you.”

But Jesus was different. He loved lepers; He touched them and healed them when they had no hope at all. We are called to treat people in a similar way. That is part of what Lent is all about, getting us to alter our lives so that we are willing to love others, regardless the circumstances.

In the opening verses of the Second Reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, he declares, “…whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” That is another way of saying that God should be at the center of our lives, and literally everything that we do should never lose that focus. Again, as we enter into Lent this week, the idea is not to do the minimum, not to barely fulfill what we are to be and what we are to do to be Disciples of Christ, but to go beyond and truly glorify God.

The Lord was always at the center of Paul’s life, but he also makes it clear that his motivation had nothing to with seeking profit or reward or glory for himself. Paul’s greatest desire for others was that they be saved; that was the true concentration of everything he did or tried to do.

Paul fully understood that he was an example. More important, he knew that he was not the worthy example, but it was Paul, the follower of Christ, who was the example. If we did nothing else during Lent but strive to show others what it means to believe in and to follow Christ, Lent would be successful for us.

Leprosy, which is addressed in the First Reading as well as our Gospel from St. Mark, has largely, as mentioned, been eradicated in the world we live in. As terrible as the physical suffering of having leprosy was, the worst part may have been the way lepers were treated. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we hear and experience situations where the Lord reaches out to someone, probably to the horror of His followers and His Apostles.

This does not mean that we have to spend our lives, as St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) did. Her service to others and that of her sisters is well known. In today’s Gospel Jesus sees God in the leper who approaches Him. One of Mother Teresa’s famous quotes was, “I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself this is hungry Jesus; I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.” It is easy to establish guidelines for ourselves during Lent: Love like Jesus. Act like Jesus. Be Christian examples to others. Pray like Jesus. Find Jesus in all around us, and treat them accordingly.

February 4, 2018 — Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

JB 7: 1-4, 6-7; PS 147: 1-6; 1 COR 9: 16-19, 22-23; MK 1: 29-39

It is not always possible to establish a theme in relation to the readings for a particular Sunday. In fact, on this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time we might say there are two themes — suffering and stewardship. Suffering in particular is something our society has come to view almost as an evil. Yet, suffering is part of life. Our faith takes this into account. Whenever you are suffering, all you have to do is look at a Crucifix. Seeing Christ on that Cross should remind us how much the Lord loves us, enough to be tortured and crucified for us. When we are in agony, Christ is in agony with us.

Our First Reading comes from the Old Testament Book of Job. The suffering of Job is legendary. You perhaps need to read the entire book to put things in perspective with today’s brief reading. Job was blessed with wealth and a blessed family. Then there is a scene in Heaven where Satan tells God that Job is pious and good only because he is so blessed; if he had none of this he would most likely curse God. Job loses everything. Yet he is able to maintain his faith, saying at one point, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed is the name of the Lord.”

Job suffered immensely. In today’s reading he declares, “Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?” There is a translation of that same phrase that reads, “Is not man’s life on earth a battle?” There is no denying that. The point is not how much we suffer; the point is how we respond to that. As Catholics and Christians we have been given hope in eternal and suffering-free life through Christ’s sacrifice for us. With Lent only a few days away (it begins on Wednesday, February 14) this is a good time to be reminded of that.

St. Paul changes the focus a bit in our Second Reading from his First Letter to the Corinthians. Paul certainly suffered in many ways during his life, although like Job, he was at one time quite comfortable and seemingly blessed. The key line in today’s reading may be “…I have been entrusted with a stewardship.” The stewardship to which he refers is his role in life to preach the Gospel no matter what the response or the attitudes he faces.

Suffering may not be a situation in which we have a choice. It is thrust upon us. In the same way Paul knew that his ministry was not a matter of choice. It was something he was called to do; it was something he had to do. He was called to preach and he feels compelled to fulfill that call. For many of us we are not certain what our calling is, but stewardship asks that we try to identify what that calling may be, and then, of course, we need to respond by trying to carry that out. In some cases it may require sacrifice and even suffering. However, if we live as God wants us to we can be assured of the same reward Paul understands — eternal life with our Lord and our God. Like Job we can declare, “Blessed is the name of the Lord.”

In our Gospel Reading from St. Mark, we hear the continuation of what we heard last week. Last week Jesus preached in the synagogue on the Sabbath day; today we hear what he did when he left the synagogue. We must remember that Jesus was in Capernaum. Capernaum was more or less the center of Jesus’ activities and ministry. It was also where the apostles Peter, James, Andrew, John, and Matthew were from. It is thus natural that the Lord would know many people there. The first thing we hear is that he visited Peter’s mother-in-law who was suffering with a fever. This act of healing is significant first because it was not in front of a large crowd, and second because it indicates that the Lord was interested in individuals. He loved them and cared for them, and was not doing it to promote himself. It was an unselfish act of stewardship.

Also, reflective of how he dealt with the demons possessing the man last week, the Lord did it with authority and simplicity. Perhaps the most telling portion of this Gospel is what Jesus did the next morning. “Rising early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” Jesus knew it was important to be alone with God if possible. We need to do the same. Jesus did not pray because he was weak, but because He was strong. He knew the source of His strength — God the Father. When we are busy and under pressure, as the Lord was, it becomes even more important to have a regular and active prayer life. Our personal prayer habits and policies need to reflect the same thing: this is especially important with Lent approaching.

January 28, 2018 — Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

DT 18: 15-20; PS 95: 1-2, 6-9; 1 COR 7: 32-35; MK 1: 21-28

The homily at Mass is delivered during what we call the Liturgy of the Word. Most of the Liturgy of the Word is made up of readings from Holy Scripture. There are three scripture readings plus the Responsorial Psalm. Most often the First Reading comes from the Old Testament (although during Easter it tends to come from the Acts of the Apostles); the Second Reading is often from one of the New Testament letters; and the Gospel Reading is always taken from one of the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. From the perspective of the Church the Liturgy of the Word “feeds the people of God from the table of His Word” (Sacrosanctum Concilium). The Responsorial Psalm occurs after the First Reading. The psalm is intended to help us to meditate on the Word of God.

Often there is a clear connection among the readings, but on occasion it is somewhat difficult to connect them. In the readings for this Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the First Reading and the Gospel and the psalm are clearly closely connected; the Second Reading is to some extent more vague in its connection.

We are accustomed to hearing about Moses (Moshe in Hebrew). The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Pentateuch, which is formed by two Greek words, pente, which means five, and teuchos, which means book. The Pentateuch is also called “the five books of Moses.” It consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Our First Reading today is from the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses is considered by many to be “the greatest prophet and teacher” in the Old Testament; in fact the Torah describes him as “the greatest prophet who ever was and will be” His influence is so great on Judaism that the religion is sometimes called Mosaism. At the beginning of this reading Moses says, “A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen.” Moses is speaking of Jesus, and it is such a clear declaration that we need to pay attention to this reading and all others as well.

Later in the reading Moses quotes God as saying, “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 that I command him.” When we consider today’s Gospel you will understand that statement more clearly.

On the one hand, the Second Reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians might appear to be dealing with a topic very distant from the First Reading and the Gospel. On the other hand, the inspired Word we find in scripture is always related. Many point to this section of the letter to explain the Catholic Church’s stance on unmarried priests, but that is not really Paul’s point at all. For Paul the most important thing in life was not romantic love, but pleasing God. From his view, he personally could please God better by remaining single. He is not condemning those who are married, and he is certainly not saying someone cannot serve God and pursue his or her vocation and calling if they are married.

Paul does make it clear that each of us called and each of us must define and pursue that calling. He wants to put all this in what we might call an “eternal perspective.” Unfortunately, there are many single persons who think that being single is a distraction. Whether that is a temporary or a permanent state, it should be seen as a special opportunity to serve God.

There are two distinct parts to today’s Gospel Reading from St. Mark. The first involves Jesus teaching clearly and with authority in the synagogue. We know from where His authority came and was based, but the people at that time were “astonished” because this occurred early on in His ministry. Perhaps a more telling moment is the second part of the Gospel when Jesus expels an evil spirit. In the time of Jesus there were many who offered the ability to expel evil spirits from someone, but they tended to use long and elaborate ceremonies, and they often were not successful. In all of Holy Scripture Jesus never failed to cast out a demon. He did not need to rely on ceremonies, because He had the authority of God, the same authority to which is referred earlier in this Gospel.

Jesus says quite simply, “Quiet! Come out of him!” That is enough and the reaction of the people is to be amazed and the beginning of having trust in the Lord, the same trust we need to have. God needs to be the authority in our own lives. We need to comprehend that and to adjust our lives to serve the Lord as good stewards and disciples.