FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR B
Deut 18:15-20; Ps 95
1Cor. 7:32-35; Mk1:21-28
JESUS, THE MAN OF ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY
After proclaiming the Good News and calling four of his disciples Jesus begins his ministry properly. Our gospel reading for this Sunday, Mk 1:21-28, gives an account of the ministry of Jesus. He went to Capernaum and visited the synagogue on the Sabbath, where he taught and healed a man with an unclean spirit. He taught with such authority that the people were amazed at his teaching because he did not teach like the other scribes.
The first thing we should note is the name of the town where this takes place. The name “Capernaum” means, “village of comfort or consolation.” The ministry of Jesus is to bring comfort and consolation to all who are broken and tormented by life and the devil. In our moments of loss, Jesus is with us. When life seems uncertain, we must continue to trust him.
In the same town of Capernaum (Mk 5:21) there was a Synagogue official, Jairus, whose daughter was at the point of death. Just when he came to Jesus to ask for healing for her, he received news that he should not bother the Lord because his daughter had died. In the midst of such troubling and confusing news, Jesus assured Jairus, “Do not be afraid, just believe.” (Mk 5:36). With faith in Jesus we shall face and overcome the storms of our lives.
The second point we should note is that this event took place on the Sabbath. Indeed, the first place we hear of the Sabbath is in Genesis, where it is described as the day of rest. In Deut 5:13-15, the Lord commanded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath; to rest and allow their servants also to rest because “He has freed all”. This means that, ‘only he who is free can rest’.
A slave has no rest. The man who is possessed with an unclean spirit represent all those who are held in bondage by Satan. The only one who can truly liberate us from the shackles of the Devil, is Jesus. For “if the son sets you free, you are free indeed” (Jn 8:36). Anyone who feels tormented by the devil can call upon the name of Jesus and he will be saved. For “at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow…” (Phil 2:10).
Thirdly, before the people could be amazed at his miracle, they were “astonished” at his teaching. The Greek translation of the word, “astonished,” is ekplesso, which means, to strike out or to be struck with amazement.” As if to suggest a physical blow or being physically thrown aback.
Jesus’ teaching sounded so new, so powerful and different in their ears. Unlike other rabbis, Jesus makes no appeal to any authority. This is because He is the word of God. He needs no authority to back himself. His words are spirit and life(Jn 6:63). He speaks deeply to the human person and his need of God. The uncompromising manner in which he spoke is what astonished the people. We are also called to fulfil our prophetic role in the world. To speak the truth freely and boldly. To be uncompromising in the truth of the gospel and our Christian life.
The fourth point to consider is Jesus’ encounter with the demon.
The demon spoke first. In fact, it spoke a lot. It was as if it wanted to intimidate Jesus, but no power of Hell can shake Jesus. He is their nightmare. Jesus rebukes the demon and casts it out.
We are not told of how the man became possessed by the demon, all we are told and shown is the power of Jesus over it. Jesus delivers us from the dominion and powers of the devil. (Col. 1:13). The defeat of Satan and all his demons has been accomplished by the death of Jesus on the cross. It does not matter how you come under the influence of the devil, what is important is that Jesus is mighty to save.
It is important to note here that after all the demon has to say, Jesus silenced and cast it out. We must all learn from Jesus. There is no need getting involved in conversations with the forces of darkness. They must be cast out in the powerful name of Jesus. What information will any demon give you that the Holy Spirit can not reveal to you. The Holy Spirit alone is the Spirit of Truth.
There two things we should keep in mind as Christians; first, it is dangerous to have the habit of seeing the devil’s activity everywhere. We should not give the devil a platform. When we allow ourselves to fall in to the habit of seeing the devil’s actions in everything, this is dangerous to our relationship with Jesus. When we allow this happen, we make Satan seem too powerful.
Secondly, we know the one who has the power-JESUS. As Christians we must live our lives acknowledging the existence of the devil and his demons but as part of the body of Christ, we must not fear them. We must believe that they cannot harm us in any way. Anyone who touches you has touched Jesus.
A further look at the words Jesus used in the exorcism reveal something significant. Jesus commanded the demon to be quiet. The Greek word used here is phimoo. It means, “muzzle.” It refers to a fastening or covering for the mouth of an animal used to prevent eating or biting, such as those we being used on dogs to restrain them from barking or trying to bite people. It is therefore used for restraining an animal. It is also the term Jesus used when he calmed the storm. By using this word Jesus is taming the beast within this man. An animal can not follow rules until it is tamed. Anyone who desires to be a follower of Christ must begin from within himself. Conversion begins by taming the beast within. And Jesus can help us with that. The amazement of the people is the fact that Jesus is able to tame the beast within the man by his words and his power.
All this happened in the synagogue. The synagogue is a place people met for worship which included reading of scripture and prayers. The significance is this; even though God can reach us every where, the church remains the common place for an encounter with our God and for the breaking of the strongholds and the influence of the forces of darkness upon our lives.
God bless you.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
