-
Today’s Gospel continues our reading from Mark and describes what some believe was likely to have been a typical day in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus and the disciples that chose to follow him in last week’s Gospel arrive at Capernaum, a small town on the Sea of Galilee. Mark is direct and concise in his report of the work of Jesus. He is quick to point out that Jesus carried a special ‘authority’ in his words and actions. Mark also lays before his readers two conflicts that Jesus will confront, one against the forces of evil and another with the religious leadership.
We will read again and again in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus ordering the spirit to be quiet and drives the unclean spirit out of the people. Jesus’ ability to heal those possessed by demons is an indication of his power over evil. In the prescientific age of Jesus’ time, all illnesses were understood to be manifestations of evil and sinfulness and this was true especially of mental illnesses. Certainly, there were many instances of cure of real demonic possessions.
If we try to explain away the healing work of Jesus, we will be missing an important facet of Jesus that Mark wants us to know. The crowds see in Jesus’ cure of the possessed man further affirmation of his authority. Jesus’ words and actions are in sync to prove that HE is the kingdom of God. The prediction of Moses to the people we read in the First Reading is being fulfilled, that God is speaking through Jesus.
We all have authority. We have authority as Christians and as Roman Catholics. People recognize this authority when they ask us, “What is it that you believe? How is it that you are so happy?” We have the authority to answer, “We believe in the real presence of the Lord in Word and Sacrament”. We know that we have a special relationship with the Lord. When we neglect this relation, we lose our authority too.
Many of our seniors have spent years taking care of their sick spouses. Their retirement meant they became full time care givers. But when someone makes a comment that he or she is such a good spouse, the caring spouse merely says, “I took vows.” His or her words have authority, the authority of the One who called him/her to the sacrament of marriage and the authority of the spouse who lives the sacrament of marriage, more than a Priest who speaks about the obligations of marriage.
Jesus gave orders to unclean spirits, and they obeyed Him. It was not just His words that expelled demons. It was the person who spoke those words. Today we pray that we use the authority we have received well by living genuine, sincere Christian lives. For there are many people who give us the authority to point them to the One who makes all life complete.
Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.