St. Gregory the Great, pope  & doctor

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6, 9-11

 You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay and the ap­pointed time for these events.  

You know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  When people feel secure and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them as the birth pangs of a woman in labor, and they will not escape.

But you, beloved, are not in darkness; so that day will not surprise you like a thief.  All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness.  Let us not, therefore, sleep as others do, but remain alert and sober.

For God has not willed us to be condemned but to win salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord.  He died for us so that we might enter into life with him, whether we are still awake or already asleep.  There­fore encourage one another and build up one another, as you are doing now.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 4: 31-37

 Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and began teaching the people at the sabbath meetings.  They were astonished at the way he taught them, for his word was spoken with authority.

 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by an evil spirit who shouted in a loud voice,  “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I recognize you: you are the Holy One of God.”  Then Jesus said to him sharply, “Be silent and leave this man!” The evil spirit then threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him harm.

Amazement seized all these people and they said to one another, “What does this mean? He commands the evil spirits with authority and power. He orders, and you see how they come out!”   And news about Je­sus spread through­out the surrounding area.

 

Reflection gospel：

“POSSESSED BY AN EVIL SPIRIT.”

The desire for power and to accumulate possession, consumerist attitude and destructive behavior, chronic frustration, hatred and unforgiveness, hopelessness and defeatism, poor self-image, fear, jealousy, indifference, and the like-all these are a concrete manifestation of an evil power that has gotten hold of the human person. They control, manipulate, oppress, mislead, and stunt the individual.

They are damaging, and their effects lasting. They stifle personal growth and well-being. Jesus’ program of actions is precisely aimed at conquering the evil power that pulls one into these predicaments, and at the same time intended at liberating the human person from their grip. What can help break free from their grip? It is the love of God, made visible in Jesus, that flows through in life; and the conviction that his grace is sufficient for and that his power is made perfect in our weakness (2) Cor12:9).

“The love of Jesus Christ…..conquers sin and gives [us] the strength to rise and begin again (Pope Francis). It frees us from sin. We may add: the love and tenderness, the concern and care, and the generosity and understanding, we experience with others are helpful to be freed from sin and its effects. And we can call them experiences of hope.