January 29th, 2006
January 29
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20, Psalm 95, 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35,
Mark 1: 25-28
"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!"
Moses prophesies the coming of a prophet who will teach with authority, who will speak the Word of God without fear, who will be true to the will of God. Of course, the fulfillment of this prophecy is Christ. It is Jesus who teaches us what is truly the will of God in our lives.
Jesus then established the Church to preserve and deepen our understanding of what he has taught. We preserve his teaching in our doctrines on faith and morality. We deepen his understanding by applying his teachings to our situation today. He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the Church, protecting her from error in her teachings.
In our time, we have so many voices clamoring to be heard. It’s like being shouted at from every direction. Some of these voices, however, want to lead us astray from the Truth that Jesus Christ entrusted to us. We can be sure, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit given to the Church by Christ, that the voice of the Church, which often comes gently among the cacophony of our society, will never lead us astray.
So often, we hear people say that, for some reason or another, they just can’t accept some teaching of the Church. When I hear people say this, I often respond with the question, “What do you think the Church teaches about that?” When they answer, they give some answer that sometimes doesn’t even remotely reflect what the Church teaches. So in fact, they are not rejecting what the Church teaches, but only what they think the Church teaches.
As we approach the teachings of the Church, especially teachings that are hard for us to accept, we should approach these doctrines with an open mind. Perhaps, when we see what the Church is teaching, it won’t be so hard for us to accept after all.
Are we open, not only to having our hearts changed, but to having our minds changed by the teachings of the Church?
What can we do to study the Church’s teachings so that we understand them better?
List of all Reflections:| Posted | Title |
| 10/31/2012 | November 4, 2012 - Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/24/2012 | October 28, 2012-Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/17/2012 | October 21, 2012-Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 02/29/2012 | Second Sunday of Lent | | 01/31/2012 | | | 01/18/2012 | Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 08/24/2010 | August 29th | | 08/17/2010 | August 22, 2010 | | 08/12/2010 | Assumption of Mary | | 05/25/2009 | Pentecost
The Birthday of the Church | | 05/29/2008 | Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/16/2006 | 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/13/2006 | 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 06/28/2006 | Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 01/23/2006 | January 29th, 2006 | | 01/16/2006 | January 22nd, 2006 | | 01/09/2006 | January 15th, 2006 | | 01/02/2006 | Epiphany | | 12/28/2005 | New Years Day | | 11/21/2005 | First Sunday of Advent | | 11/14/2005 | Solemnity of Christ the King | | 11/09/2005 | November 13, 2005 | | 09/27/2005 | October 2, 2005 | | 09/19/2005 | September 25, 2005 | | 09/13/2005 | September 18, 2005 | | 09/05/2005 | September 11, 2005 | | 08/31/2005 | September 4, 2005 | | 07/11/2005 | July 17, 2005 | | 07/07/2005 | July 10, 2005 | | 07/06/2005 | July 3, 2005 | | 06/21/2005 | June 26, 2005 | | 06/14/2005 | June 19th, 2005 | | 05/23/2005 | Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ | | 05/16/2005 | Holy Trinity Sunday | | 05/09/2005 | Pentecost | | 05/05/2005 | May 8, 2005 | | 04/26/2005 | May 1st, 2005 | | 04/18/2005 | Fifth Sunday of Easter | | 04/11/2005 | Fourth Sunday of Easter | | 04/06/2005 | THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER | | 04/06/2005 | Divine Mercy Sunday | | 04/05/2005 | Holy Thursday Homily | | 03/27/2005 | EASTER | | 03/25/2005 | The Passion of John | | 03/14/2005 | PALM SUNDAY | | 03/07/2005 | FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT | | 02/28/2005 | Fourth Sunday of Lent | | 02/23/2005 | Third Sunday of Lent | | 02/14/2005 | Second Sunday of Lent | | 02/10/2005 | First Sunday of Lent | | 02/07/2005 | Ash Wednesday | | 01/31/2005 | Feb. 6, 2005 | | 01/24/2005 | January 30th, 2005 | | 01/17/2005 | January 23, 2005 | | 01/10/2005 | January 16, 2005 | | 01/05/2005 | January 9th, 2005 | | 01/02/2005 | January 2, 2005 | | 12/28/2004 | Mary, Mother of God - Jan. 1st | | 12/26/2004 | Feast of the Holy Family | | 12/22/2004 | Christmas | | 12/13/2004 | Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14. Psalm 24: 1-6.
Romans 1:1-7. Matthew 1:18-24. | | 12/06/2004 | Third Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10. Psalm 146:6-10.
James 5:7-10. Matthew 11:2-11.
| | 12/01/2004 | Second Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10. Psalm 72, 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17.
Romans 15:4-9. Matthew 3: 1-12 | | 11/29/2004 | First Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5. Psalm 122:1-9.
Romans 13:11-14. Matthew 24:37-44. | | 11/22/2004 | The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
2 Samuel 5:1-3, Psalm 122:1-5,
Colossians 1:12-20, Luke 23:35-43 |
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