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Historical Context – He said what?
In an age when most people were illiterate, Jesus appears to have been quite well educated. Some suggest that he may have spoken three or four different languages. He obviously spoke everyday Aramaic, as it was spoken in that region. Jesus also appears to have been taught Hebrew, the language of religious texts and religious practice. Greek, the language of trade in marketplaces, was a language that Jesus probably used when helping Joseph sell his carpentry products at stalls and markets. Finally, Jesus probably picked up a reasonable amount of Latin, the language of the Roman occupiers – he was able to hold a conversation with Pontius Pilate.
This week’s gospel is a relatively short passage, there’s a lot going on within it. Firstly, we are presented with Jesus going to the synagogue in Capernaum and teaching there and obviously able to read from the Torah in Hebrew and then teach about it with an impressive level of authority. In fact at the end of the passage, the people seem more impressed with his teaching than with the act of casting out the unclean spirit! Secondly, in the interaction with the unclean spirit, it knows Jesus and identifies him as the ‘Holy One of God’. Jesus sharply tells the spirit to ‘Be quiet!’ Jesus almost appears to want to silence the spirit before it says any more about who he really is. This is a feature of the gospel of Mark in which the identity of Jesus as the Messiah is kept under wraps but breaks out in unlikely places – known as the Messianic secret.
Whenever an exorcism miracle occurs in the gospels the emphasis is on the reaction to the miracle much more than the action itself. Here, the casting out of the unclean spirit appears to confirm for the people the authority that they sensed in the teaching of Jesus.
Liberating the possessed man from the unclean spirit is an illustration of the way in which the people themselves were liberated by Jesus’ teaching. It is the message, the teaching, of Jesus that frees people. It is in this way that the understanding of Messiah is revealed. Jesus wants people to come to that knowledge through understanding his message, rather than being impressed by miraculous actions.
The Messianic Secret—Is What?
There is a real lack of understanding displayed by the disciples about who Jesus is. At one point, Jesus asks the disciples, ‘who do you think I am?’ They identify him as the Messiah but immediately demonstrate that they don’t really understand what that means. The theme that runs through the gospel is a developing understanding of what it means that Jesus is the Messiah. Greg Sunter
A PRAYER TO ST JOSEPH
St Joseph, you were receptive to God working in your life.
Help us by your prayers at this time of trial.
You kept Jesus and Mary under your watchful care:
may your prayers assist our local Church to respond to those in need.
You taught the Christ Child your trade and prayers: help us to follow his example of love.
You were part of God’s plan for all humanity: assist us to be vigilant and responsible this day.
You spent your life in service: may we be mindful of others, particularly
the elderly and vulnerable, caring for them in these difficult days.
You trusted in the clear primacy of God over all history and every situation:
help us to grow in faith and pray to the Father, Thy will be done. Amen.
Sacraments:
Baptism: 1st Sunday of the Month (9:00 AM Mass )
Reconciliation
Marriage
Anointing of the Sick
Funerals
Contact Parish office for Enquiries & Arrangement
2021 First Eucharist, Reconciliation & Confirmation
For children attending St. Timothy’s school, preparation for these three sacraments is through the school.
For children not attending St. Timothy’s school, preparation and enrollment is through the Parish Office every Tuesday-Thursday from 9:00-3PM and Friday from 1:00- 5:00PM
MASS TIMES: Saturday: 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM
Mass in Vietnamese : 5:00 PM (All Sundays)
Weekdays: Wednesday & Thursday, 9:15 am
1st Wednesday of the month, 10:00 am, Anointing Mass
Every Friday, 10:00 am
This Week Volunteer Volunteer
Next week Mary Italiano Anico Yee
This Week C: P:
Volunteer Volunteer
Next week C: P:
Peggy D’Cruz Patrick Kelly
Kath Barritt Alfred Lee
This Week: Peggy D’ Cruz / Kenneth D’ Cruz
Next Week: Barry Silvester / Christine Silvester
“Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of
anxieties.”- 1 Corinthians 7:32
How much anxiety do we bring upon ourselves by constantly worrying about not having enough or attaining more things? God won’t necessarily give you everything you want, but He will provide everything you need. Try this – use the word “pray” instead of the word “worry” in the future. Then pray for things instead of worrying about them.
MASS ONLINE
ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, MELBOURNE Masses are livestreamed daily on our Archdiocesan YouTube channel and on Sundays are available to view on free-to-air
TV via C31 (channel 44 on digital TV).
BOX HILL PARISH
Daily Masses: https://www.facebook.com/GBHparish Sunday Masses: https://www.youtube.com/c/GreaterBoxHillParish
MASS FOR YOU AT HOME Available at Network Ten - 10 Play
https://10play.com.au/mass-for-you-at-home
VIETNAMESE SUNDAY MASS AT 5:00 PM https://www.facebook.com/sttimvn
Our Thanksgiving Online Payment Portal is Parish Pay Portal
https://secure.artezpacific.com/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?
teamID=116521&langPref=en-CA
Gratitude for your continuing support.
You may also opt to use the direct debit facility, kindly email or call us for application form or
the Parish bank details.
ASH WEDNESDAY MASS SCHEDULE 17 FEBRUARY
9:15 AM
7:00 PM
2 February - The Presentation of the Lord
5 February - Saint Agatha
6 February - Saint Paul Miki and companions
We are in need of additional Readers and Proclaimers. Sign-up sheets in the foyer. Trainings will be provided.
Our heartfelt condolences and prayers to
the family of Terry Drew on his passing.
Terry has been one of our longest and
committed parish volunteers .
May perpetual light shine upon
Terry’s beautiful soul and may he rest
in eternal peace with the Lord.
At St Timothy’s School Ground
6 weeks to 5 years old includes 3 and 4 Year Old Kinder
A funded Kindergarten program available. Please call: Celine on (03) 98075208 or email at
AROUND THE CHURCH—THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
Catholic Resources : melbournecatholic.org.au; cathnews.com
JUSTICE AND MERCY: ANNUAL RED MASS FOR THE OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR
Unless you’re part of Melbourne’s legal fraternity, you may have been unaware that the opening of the legal year is celebrated with the Red Mass, a ceremony at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Red Mass represents the long-standing link between the legal profession and the Church and is well-attended each year by senior judges, donning ceremonial regalia of wigs and robes, alongside other members of the legal profession and their families.
Chaplain to the Melbourne Catholic Lawyers Association Fr Cameron Forbes articulates why this is an important event in the calendar. ‘The Red Mass highlights that working in the legal profession – be it as a judge, barrister or solicitor – is more than a job; it is a vocation in the pursuit of justice and mercy,’ he says.
‘The Red Mass calls upon the Holy Spirit to guide and bless the work of those in the legal profession.’
The Red Mass is so named from the fact that traditionally, the celebrant wore red vestments, customary in services celebrating the Holy Spirit, and in centuries past the attending Lord High Justices also wore scarlet robes.
Currently, the Red Mass ceremony occurs in many cities over the world and comes from a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.
The Mass is a welcome reminder that the values of justice and mercy that underpin the system of law and order and enable our society to function, come first from God.
DESPITE COVID, PALMS SEEKS
MISSION ASSISTANCE
For 60 years Palms Australia has been recruiting, preparing and sending Catholics to fill overseas professional placements in response to requests from international community partners. With COVID-19 preventing the gatherings Palms would normally hold to facilitate recruitment for mission, Palms is instead asking for the assistance of the Australian Catholic community to recruit the qualified and experienced Australians requested by partner organisations in low-income communities. These partners believe that the people Palms prepare and send for between one and three years provide the most effective and sustainable solutions to poverty. “It is difficult to be precise, but it seems we need to be ready to meet partner request and begin sending again in the second half of this year, or early 2022,” said Palms executive director Roger O’Halloran. Palms thoroughly prepares and supports those recruited for mutual development and is welcoming inquiries today to ensure an appropriately paced preparation. The Palms website provides background to positions currently available. It is anticipated that even more requests from partners will be added in coming months. Details: www.palms.org.au
SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD
The Church in Australia will celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God on the first Sunday in February each year, starting with February 7 in 2021.
Pope Francis last year instituted the celebration when issuing the apostolic letter Aperuit Illis. The letter encouraged the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.
The date for marking the Sunday of the Word of God was set as the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. However, in light of the regular coincidence of the Australia Day holiday or associated long weekend with the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have decided to assign the first Sunday in February as Sunday of the Word of God in Australia.
'The bishops recognised the need to create a Sunday free from potential distraction when setting the date for the Sunday of the Word of God,' said Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, chair of the Bishops Commission for Liturgy.
'The date was chosen to retain close proximity to the international celebration, but to avoid the clash with the Australia Day observance. The choice of date also ensures it falls before the start of Lent.'
'The Church’s love for Sacred Scripture is often misunderstood or underestimated, so this occasion offers us the opportunity to celebrate the Word of God in new and diverse ways,' Archbishop O’Regan said.
SIGN NUCLEAR WEAPONS TREATY,
PRIME MINISTER URGED
The Bishop Delegate for Social Justice has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, urging Australia to join the countries who have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons that comes into force today.
The majority of United Nations member states, including the Holy See, have signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Australia, however, has not yet become a signatory.
In his letter to Mr Morrison, Bishop Terry Brady explained that the elimination of nuclear weapons would be a major step towards creating peace in the world. 'Experience has taught us that the threat of mutual destruction – with the possibility of the total destruction of humankind and our common home – cannot provide a foundation for peace and security in the multipolar world of the twenty-first century,' Bishop Brady wrote.
'Nuclear weapons are incapable of addressing terrorism, asymmetrical conflicts, cybersecurity, ecological problems, or poverty. 'Any use of nuclear weapons is clearly immoral as they are inherently indiscriminate and their impact is uncontainable in time and space.'
Bishop Brady said the continued availability of nuclear weapons 'poses an unacceptable risk of deliberate or accidental use, and it diverts resources from the things that positively foster peace'.
'It is time for Australia to begin the process of stepping away from all involvement with nuclear weapons by signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.'
INTRODUCTION TO MASS:
Power and authority usually go together and are often confused. If Jesus exercised authority it was not in the oppressive fashion of many earthly rulers but in service of the poor. His power was directed towards liberating people from unjust laws, evil spirits, slavery of sin and debilitating illnesses. Christ invites and empowers us to join in his healing mission to overcome whatever it is which tears people apart, whether at the individual, community or global levels. It is this power that is at work in us.
PENITENTIAL RITE:
Lord Jesus, you are our teacher and guide. Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you were sent to heal the contrite. Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you renew us with your spirit. Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
FIRST READING: Dt 18: 15-20
Moses said to the people: ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself, from among yourselves, from your own brothers; to him you must listen. This is what you yourselves asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the Assembly. “Do not let me hear again” you said “the voice of the Lord my God, nor look any longer on this great fire, or I shall die”; and the Lord said to me, “All they have spoken is well said. I will raise up a prophet like yourself for them from their own brothers; I will put my words into his mouth and he shall tell them all I command him. The man who does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name, shall be held answerable to me for it. But the prophet who presumes to say in my name a thing I have not commanded him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”’
RESPONSORIAL PSALM :
If today, you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 1. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. (R.) 2. Come in, let us kneel and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture, the flock that is led by his hand. (R.) 3. O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test; when they tried me, though they saw my work.’ (R.)
SECOND READING: 1Cor 7: 32-35
I would like to see you free from all worry. An unmarried man can devote himself to the Lord’s affairs, all he need worry about is pleasing the Lord; but a married man has to bother about the world’s affairs and devote himself to pleasing his wife: he is torn two ways. In the same way an unmarried woman, like a young girl, can devote herself to the Lord’s affairs; all she need worry about is being holy in body and spirit. The married woman, on the other hand, has to worry about the world’s affairs and devote herself to pleasing her husband. I say this only to help you, not to put a halter round your necks, but simply to make sure that everything is as it should be, and that you give your undivided attention to the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:
Alleluia! Alleluia! A people in darkness have seen a great light: a radiant dawn shines on those lost in death. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Mk 1: 21-28
Jesus and his followers went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the Sabbath came Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit, and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.
