Youth for Christ Sto. Tomas Cluster

01292012, Sunday

Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 95, 1 Corinthians 7:32-35,

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

A Man With an Evil Spirit

Jesus and his disciples came to the town of Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn’t like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.

Just then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are—you are God’s holy messenger!”

Jesus ordered the spirit, “Be quiet, and come out of the man!”

The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him.The people were all so amazed that they started saying to one another, “What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits, and they obey him!”

And so the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the province of Galilee.

Photo by: LCM

“… because he taught them as one who had authority …” – Mark 1:21

I have always been a person who wants things to be in control.  My mother told me that ever since I was a child, I like having things planned out.  When I was six, I had a schedule of what time I have to take a bath, what time I have to watch TV, what time I have to go to sleep, etc.

Even today, I still do that. This time with more specific and serious goals for the future—what kind of job I want to have, when I will pursue further studies, etc.

Thus, when things don’t go according to plan, I get disappointed, uneasy, scared, and frustrated.  I hate having things beyond my control.

And then, as I read this Gospel reading, it came to me: Maybe not everything has to be in my control.  Maybe my plan has to deviate sometimes because God is also in control of my life.  He is the one who knows what’s in store for me, and maybe part of it doesn’t involve the things that I myself had planned.

So, in the midst of our plans not working as we want them to be, don’t fret.  Let us not forget that there’s something bigger in store for us because God has planned for us to find true love, peace, and happiness.

Let God take control of your life, too.

Writer: Bea Mandac | Artist: LCM/ Works of Heart

via CFCYOUTHFORCHRIST.NET