Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Yea B (Racial Justice Sunday)

The One we must listen to. In today’s first reading from the Deuteronomy, the Lord promises to raise for his people a prophet like Moses to whom God’s people must listen, and in whose mouth, God will put his word. Hence, today’s responsorial psalm prays, “O that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts”. In Jesus, this promise is definitively being fulfilled. Therefore, at his baptism and transfiguration, a voice came from heaven and said, “Listen to him”. By listening to Jesus’ word and following him, God leads us to the fullness of life and freedom foreshadowed in today’s Gospel when Jesus delivered the demon-possessed simply by the power of his word. Hence, St Paul, tells us in today’s second reading to give the Lord our undivided attention. Jesus listened to and lived by the Father’s words and thus acted with the divine authority (Mtt 28:18). We too can, today, act with and exercise the authority of God’s children over the elemental spirits of this world by listening and yielding to Jesus’ word which then empowers us to exercise divine authority. O Lord, help us by your grace. Happy Sunday