The liturgical calendar of the Church is marked by seven seasons: Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas; Christmas, the time when we celebrate the Incarnation, the birth of the Son of God who became human; Ordinary Time, derived from the word ordinal, as in ordinal numbers in which we celebrate and reflect upon the life and teachings of Jesus. Lent is another preparatory season with a special emphasis on repentance as we prepare to celebrate the premier Season of Easter, but before the Easter explosion of Alleluia, there is the Easter Triduum, three days in which we celebrate the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Jesus. During the Easter Season we rejoice that we are Christians because of the real fact that Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead. The liturgical calendar then rounds out the year with the second season of Ordinary Time.
The Church also divides the liturgical readings of the Bible up into a three year cycle for Sunday readings and a two year cycle for week day readings in a text called the lectionary. This book, actually a four volume set, is a gathering of specific biblical accounts read on specific days, each day of the year. Through the three year cycle one can then be exposed to the vast depth and breadth of Sacred Scripture, the Old and the New Testaments. In this way we can experience again and again what is hidden or concealed in the Old while at the same time discovering what is revealed in the New. Immersing ourselves in these daily readings is a powerful way to come, not to only understand Jesus better, but to come to know, and be transformed by, him.
These two paragraphs serve as a preface to clarify that as we start the Season of Ordinary Time, there is nothing ordinary about it! As I shared above, this is the time we reflect on and celebrate the life and teachings of Jesus. Our participation in the scriptural and liturgical life provides for us a foundation to better live as disciples of Christ. I am not writing or implying that we are to only read what the Church prescribes on these days alone, but just that we have been given a wonderful opportunity to build a solid foundation for our life. We certainly need to go beyond and read, study, and pray the Bible on our own, be involved in small group Bible studies, enroll in courses, as well as read solid commentaries.
With that said, let us return to the Gospel reading of the day from Mark. One point that struck me from today’s passage (actually, more did, but let’s go with this one!) was the fact that Jesus “taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes” (Mk 1:22). What does Mark mean here? Mark is relaying to us that the way the scribes taught and discussed their sacred texts was by quoting various trusted interpreters, those who had the weight of authority to do so. Jesus was quoting no one. He spoke from his own authority.
The Gospel of John picks up this authority right from the beginning of his Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). Jesus Christ is the Word, the Logos in Greek. Who would have more authority to speak about the word of God, than the Logos, the Word, himself!
If you haven’t read the Bible ever, have not for a long time, or have been away for awhile. I invite you to read the Gospel of Mark at your own pace, say five to ten minutes a day. What may be even better is to read a short section at a time and just meditate on the word from the Word. See what Jesus is revealing to you. It is the shortest of the four Gospels, it is quick moving, and action packed. Mark will give James Patterson a run for his money! More importantly, though, the reason I invite you to join me is: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1:15).
As questions or comments arise, I am sure others do as well, send your them along, let us continue to journey along the stepping stones together with the intent of drawing closer to our loving God and Father.
Photo: One of my bookshelves
Link for today’s Mass reading for Tuesday, January 9, 2018:
Spiritual Stepping Stones 