Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the words of St. Marshawn, “You know why I’m here.” On Super Bowl Sunday. “I’m here so I don’t get fined” by Fr. Magnano who is off somewhere eating chicken wings and watching the game. For the benefit of the faithful 12, a very brief reflection today.

Today is a day of civic liturgy, at least for the residents of Seattle and Boston. 12.5 million pizzas will be ordered, 7.5 million new TV sets have been purchased, and 1.25 billion chicken wings are said to have been sold for this afternoon’s eat-a-thon.  Former gospel singer Katy Perry will be singing at half time. And, as is regularly the case with the Seahawks, we are praying for the usual miracle that happens in the fourth quarter.

All that hoopla is a long way from Capernaum. We are just twenty verses into Mark’s first chapter at the beginning of the gospel. Jesus appears in the synagogue down the road from this hometown of Nazareth, and begins to teach: not shouting putdowns like Richard Sherman, or doing Marshawn shoutouts to his homies.

Jesus teaches with authority, and more importantly, Jesus acts with authority.  Indeed, his action is his teaching, and that’s Mark’s message for us today.  Jesus acts with authority, recognizes evil and disorder in the man possessed by the unclean spirit, and names and calls out of him that evil and disorder, sends it on its way. The evil spirit recognizes that power and authority even before the people in the synagogue do. They feel his power, his authority that comes not from athletic training but from his intimate relationship with God. Jesus knows that Super Bowl in which he struggles is the cosmic battleground, the ultimate trial between good and evil.  And so he acts, definitively and explains later, explains with words and actions, explains with his dying and rising. 

In the game of life and death, as in the game of football, actions speak louder than words.  St. Marshawn knows that. And Jesus knows that.  Let us pray that we, descendants of the original 12 whom Jesus called, can know that, and act on it too. 

Thomas M. Lucas S.J.