Consider the Word, January 28, 2021

Consider the Word, January 28, 2021
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Readings for January 31

• Deuteronomy 18:15-20

• Psalm 111

• 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

• Mark 1:21-28

 
Collect

Living God, in Christ you make all things new.

Transform the poverty of our nature

by the riches of your grace,

and in the renewal of our lives

make known your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 1:21-28

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching - with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. 

 
Reflection Questions

1. What “demons (destructive forces)” possess us as a community, as a nation, and as members of the human race?
2. Prayer can be thought of as, “the struggle to believe that change can really happen.” It takes courage to name those things that aim to control and destroy us, so what tools to we need to help the right change happen?

 
 
Closing Prayer

Holy and awesome God,

your Son's authority is found in integrity and living truth,

not the assertion of power over others.

Open our imaginations to new dimensions of your love,

and heal us of all that severs us from you and one another,

that we may grow into the vision you unfold before us. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 1:21-28
Confident Teaching

^21-22 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

^23-24 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you’ve come to destroy us!”

^25-26 Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!” The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.

^27-28 Everyone there was spellbound, buzzing with curiosity. “What’s going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and tells them to get lost!” News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
 

Living God,