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Sunday Reflection for January 29, 2012
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Sunday Summary

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Moses foretells that the Teacher of Righteousness will come, bearing divine authority.

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9 Many who hear God’s voice turn their hearts away. May it not be so with us!

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Our hearts must be free of division when it’s time to attend to the will of God.

Mark 1:21-28 Unclean spirits know better than to assert themselves against the authority of Jesus.

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4th Sunday
in Ordinary Time

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Exploring the Word
If today you hear God’s voice . . .
Where does God speak to you? The easy answer is "church"; you get points for that. The reality, however, is that God speaks to you most often and most clearly wherever you are. And unless you’re the sacristan at your parish, chances are most of that time you’re not anywhere near a church. God speaks to us where we are, in the midst of fulfilling—or sometimes shirking—our vocation. In the eyes of our loved ones, God draws us with the summons to love. In the requests of coworkers and the needs of friends, . . .
Read More of this and future Reflections
Weekday Homily Reflection for January 28, 2012
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World news in light of the Good News
for Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Preaching the News
» Addressing the state of a politically divided union – Jesus’ considerable persuasive authority is on display in this Sunday’s gospel, both in his address to the people in the synagogue and in his taming of an unclean spirit. In a test of his own powers of persuasion, President Barack Obama gave his final State of the Union address before he faces voters in next fall’s election . . . More...
» Churches criticize government contraceptive ruling – We are the people God shepherds, the flock God guides, the psalmist reminds us this Sunday. U.S. bishops, who shepherd dioceses across the nation, are upset with the Obama administration’s decision last Friday that religiously affiliated nonprofit organizations, including hospitals and universities, will have to offer a broad range of birth-control coverage . . . More...
» Cancer patients struggle to quit smoking – “I should like you to be free of anxieties,” counsels Saint Paul in this Sunday’s reading from 1 Corinthians. Overcome by anxiety, sizeable numbers of people with colon cancer or lung cancer continue to smoke after being diagnosed, researchers say. They emphasize the need for cancer specialists to encourage smokers to quit and to help them do so . . . More...
» Rising number of readers "screen" their books – Promising to raise a prophet like Moses among the people, God will “put my words in his mouth,” says this Sunday’s reading from the Book of Deuteronomy. When it comes to putting words on a screen, people are increasingly turning to tablet computers and e-book readers . . . More...
Quote of the Week
“I might have tacos when I go home; I’m not quite sure yet.”
—East Haven, Connecticut Mayor Joseph Maturo responding to a news reporter’s question, “What are you doing for the Latino community today?” after the arrest of four police offers in the New Haven suburb on charges of waging a campaign of harassment against Latino residents and businesses. Maturo later apologized for his comments.

Source: The Washington Post

Fact of the Week
A recent Southern Baptist Convention phone survey of a random selection of Protestant pastors found that 73 percent disagreed with the statement, “God used evolution to create people," and 46 percent think the earth is only about 6,000 years old. 74 percent believe Adam and Eve were real people.
Source: CNN

Pastoral Trends
All is not well
We should be dissatisfied with ourselves as church. Not despondent, but certainly not smug. We all know the numbers: Something like one in three of Catholics who come in the front door through the sacraments of initiation go out through the back door. Or that something like one in ten Catholic young people attend Mass regularly . . .  Read more...