Deuteronomy 18:15-20 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Mark 121-28
Today's gospel finds Jesus in the synagogue at Capernaum teaching “as one having authority.” His listeners were impressed by his words but it is unclean spirit who identifies Jesus as the “Holy One of God!’ And it is the healing of the possessed man, the expulsion of the unclean spirit, that the listeners find most convincing. As always, actions speak louder than words.
The Scriptures give us the preaching of Jesus in many different settings. There is the Sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes in Matthew. In the gospel according to John we find Jesus's farewell discourse. His audience is always moved by Jesus's words but it seems that it is the “signs”… healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry… that give evidence that Jesus is more than just another prophet. Actions speak louder than words… no matter how eloquent the words.
For us, too. We come together on Sunday and share the Eucharist. And by doing so we commit to being broken and shared, poured out as he was for the sake of the world. Then Monday comes. And we have many opportunities to live the words we said we believed. We are reminded daily that walking the walk is harder than talking the talk.
And so, let us pray for one another.
May the words we pray together on Sunday guide our behavior when we leave here. May we be as loving in our families, our neighborhoods, our workplaces as we say we will be. May God make us wise in discernment of God’s will and passionate for justice. And may the Spirit of God help us live daily as good a life as we talk. Amen.
by:Pat Schnee
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