Collect for 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

4th SUNDAY OF YEAR B

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

Grant us, Lord our God,

that we may honour You with all our mind,

And love everyone in truth of heart.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

What does it mean to me to honour God with all my mind?

What are the areas of my mind that have not/currently honour God?

What changes do I need to make to ensure that I honour God with my mind?

How do I love everyone in truth of heart?

How do I become more aware of my heart?

How does God’s commandment to love and the beatitudes help me to love in truth of heart?

 

 GOSPEL REFLECTION

 

Today’s Gospel is from Mk 1:21-28.  The people were astonished that Jesus taught with authority. This was because Jesus was teaching the truth, whereas the scribes and pharisees had their own agenda- it was about themselves.

 

 If our conscience is formed and attuned well, we are well aware when God’s truth is not spoken or when it is preached without conviction.  We are also aware when the truth, even if it is unpalatable to our way of life or our ears, is preached with conviction and we hear and accept it.  Like the people, we can be astonished too but hopefully we hear it like the disciples on the road to Emmaus and our hearts burn as the scripture is opened for us.  The problem for many people today is that their conscience was not formed appropriately nor are they aware of its inadequacies so they are easy targets for the world’s agenda not God’s teaching.  They shut God out of their lives instead of making Him no 1.

 

It is important to realise the contrast between the unclean spirits and the people who were astonished.  The unclean spirits knew and proclaimed Jesus as the Holy One of God, yet the people did not recognise Him.   What about us?  Do we recognise Jesus as the Holy One of God in our lives?  What unclean spirits live in me and what can I o about it? 

 

We can always ask Jesus for healing and cleansing from whatever is troubling us.  We can usually name our fears, weaknesses, sins inadequacies.  It is the naming of it that it loses power over us.  Regular reconciliation gives us grace to battle our demons whatever they may be. It is in this sacrament that we can experience the mercy of Jesus and receive graces to overcome our sins and weaknesses.  We also are absolved by Jesus and we are able to walk free.  We accept and know in our hearts first hand that Jesus is the Holy One of God.