Several themes run through today's Mass readings. One is the theme of authority, another is that of listening or paying attention to God.
In the first reading, Moses reminds the Israelites of the moment when God had spoken to them on the mountain. That occasion, with its fire and thunder, was to show Moses' authority as a prophet and the authority of the Law that God revealed through him. But Moses announces a future and greater prophet on whose lips God would put His own words. A prophet with even greater authority and power. And this is the Jesus we see in the Gospel: not just a messenger of God, but God Himself.
In the Gospels, God no longer seeks to scare us. The ancient Israelites were rough and primitive and needed harsh treatment to instill faith in them. The new covenant requires new methods. God no longer wants to frighten us, though he does want to terrify the demons. Rather, by terrorizing the demons, who try to terrorize us, he tries to convince us of his mercy. The Gospel shows us the power of Jesus. He is a God who not only controls the forces of nature, but also subdues the forces of evil. With a brief phrase he casts out the devil and twice in today's text reference is made to Jesus' authority: the authority of his teaching and his authority over unclean spirits.
It is this divine authority that today's readings invite us to take seriously. It is not a politician with empty promises or a motivational speaker with empty phrases, it is God himself with divine authority. It is no wonder that Moses tells us in the first reading: "You will hear him".
This brings us to the issue of listening. We listen to someone based on their authority. We will not listen to anyone who does not have the right to speak to us. Jesus Christ has infinite authority. He can be terrifying if he wants to be, as God was at Sinai; he can silence demons with a word. But instead of imposing his power, he prefers to offer us his love in meekness. However, the meekness of his approach should not make us think that his law is something we can take or leave. "To him you will listen." And the psalm insists: "May you hear his voice today: 'Do not harden your hearts [...]'.". The second reading calls us to give our undivided attention to "the Lord's business"Christ's command to the devil to "be silent" is also a reminder to us. If we want to listen to God and obey Him, we must strive to listen to Him, to give Him our full attention and to find moments of silence and prayer in our lives, to "be quiet".
Homily on the readings of Sunday, 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
The priest Luis Herrera Campo offers its nanomiliaA short one-minute reflection for these Sunday readings.
