“Submitting ourselves to the Power and Authority of our Blessed Lord!”

(Based on Dt 18:15-20, 1 Cor 7:32-35 and Mk 1:21-28- 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B)

A beautiful and commonly quoted story goes thus:

A very poor woman called a Christian radio station asking for some assistance and help.

A man – known to be an unbeliever in God and who highly despised religion – who was listening to this radio program…

…. decided to make something out of it…

>> He decided to play a prank on the woman, and make her a fool.

He got the ladies’ address…

… then called his secretary and ordered her to buy food

>> And take to the woman with the following instruction:

“when the woman asks who sent the food…

… tell her that it’s from the devil.”

When the secretary arrived and delivered the food to the woman…

… the woman was so happy and readily accepted the food and moved inside her little house.

The Secretary, out of curiosity asked her: “But don’t you want to know who sent the food?”

The woman answered:

“NO, it doesn’t matter!

>> Because when GOD orders, even the devil obeys.”

Yes…

… when God orders, even the devil obeys!

The Gospel of the Day presents this act of encounter…

… where the shackles of captivity and bondage of Satan are broken by the power of release and liberation by Jesus!

… where Kingdom of Satan yields to the Kingdom of God!

Jesus is in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and addressing the people. (Mk 1:21)

>> His teaching is full of power and conviction…

>> His teaching is filled with passion and fervour…

This presentation of Jesus, with full of power and authority is something remarkable…

… and worth to be imitated and inspired.

Jesus announced in his first Programmatic Speech (Lk 4: 16-30)…

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…

… to proclaim liberty to the captives”

In tune with this announcement, the Lord goes about “preaching liberty to the captives”…

Those people, who were captivated…

… by sin

… by oppression

… by evil forces and satanic powers

>> And this “liberation from captivity,” was done by Jesus…

… with a lot of power and authority

… with immense conviction and passion

When one is deeply convinced of one’s beliefs, it overflows into one’s words and actions

As He thus taught the people, Jesus encountered a man with an unclean spirit, who cried out:

” What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (Mk 1: 24)

Darkness cannot reign, when light shines!

>> Filth cannot dominate, where there is immense holiness!

The man with the unclean spirit could not tolerate the Words and the Presence of Jesus!

>> His heart and mind began to reverberate

Irritation began in him..

… Restlessness began to overpower him

And finally, unable to withstand, he yelll out: “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?!” (Mk 1: 24)

But the Power of God was much more powerful than this yelling!

The Lord with might and power, boldness and audacity ordered:

“QUIET! Come out of him” (Mk 1: 25)

And when God orders, even the devil obeys!

The Gospel says: “The unclean spirit convulsed him, and with a loud cry came out of him” (Mk 1:26)

Our life is a constant battle with the powers of the evil.

Time and again, we have people and situations who discourage us

>> Many times we go through moments when spiritual life doesn’t seem to be encouraging

We often get tied down by the powers of temptation

>> We often get disappointed by the struggles of sinful tendencies

But let’s know for sure: The power of the Lord is with us – waiting to save us!

We need to know for sure: That when God orders, even the devil obeys!

What is therefore needed is that, we need to…

… yield ourselves to the Orders of God!

… make ourselves open and docile to the Commands of God!

Let’s examine our Christian lives and check:

Do I constantly seek live a life, in the Presence of the Lord…

… so that no powers of Satan can touch us?

Do I nourish my spiritual life with the daily food of Prayer, Word of God and re-commitment to holiness…

… so that we are never under the bondage of the evil?

The mighty power of the Lord is with us

>> Always wanting to provide for us!

>> Always wanting to take care of us!

Let’s submit ourselves to His Power and Authority, knowing for sure:

“When God orders, even the devil obeys!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism

MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE PROLIFERATION OF SIN

>> The catechetical tradition also recalls that there are “sins that cry to heaven”: 

… the blood of Abel

… the sin of the Sodomites

… the cry of the people oppressed in Egypt 

… the cry of the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan

… injustice to the wage earner. (CCC # 1867)

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