"With the Lord there is Mercy and Fullness of Redemption" (Psalm 130) It is good to return to Sundays in Ordinary Time with the hope of Psalm 130 that tells us that "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption." Many times we emphasize the greatness and wonders of the Lord that we forget about God's fullness of redemption. The Lord manifests His majesty and glory in the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter that somehow we neglect to put our hope in Him who is compassionate and merciful. This liturgical year the Catholic Church takes most of the Gospel readings from Saint Mark. Reading this Gospel is reading the dramatic story of Jesus, the rejected prophet. Mark wanted everyone who heard or read his Gospel to look to Jesus, the Son of God, as the one who travels to Jerusalem to face his destiny. That is why Jesus is always moving, inviting his disciples-and us- to follow. In today's Gospel, Jesus moves quickly through a growing crowd, rebuking those who misunderstand his power, warning those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, and redefining their understanding of family. The first reading is quite familiar, but it is cut off before we hear the consequences that befall Eve, Adam, and humanity for their disobedience. Interestingly, only the serpent is punished in this selection of the Bible. The serpent plays the role of Satan here. Eventually, however, the serpent will meet its match: her offspring "will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel." We will always have to fight against temptation knowing that God has given us an advantage over Satan. Satan makes a return appearance in the Gospel. The scribes accused Jesus of being possessed by Satan because he healed people and drove out demons on the Sabbath. Mark who from the beginning to the end of his Gospel has the predominant idea that Jesus is the Son of God notes the ridiculousness of that accusation "how can Satan drive out Satan." Jesus reveals the Holy Spirit as the true power behind his apostolic action. The great teaching for us is that we have the Holy Spirit within us from our baptism and therefore we have the strength of Jesus to reject the temptations and overcome the power of the evil one. More importantly, if we act in accord with the Spirit, we show our kinship with Jesus “for whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35). Fr. Hernán, SJ. "Those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice" are part of "a wider family than that where you come into the world, "is the family of God's people. (Pope Francis)