In fact we will meditate on this Gospel for most of the year.
Up until now,
Jesus moved by the preaching of John left his home.
He was baptized in the Jordan.
He is tempted in the desert and discerned what God needed him to say and do.
Last week we heard how He called his first disciples
and finally today in our Gospel reading we find him in the Synagogue in Capernaum at the very beginning his public ministry.
It is important to note that the very first thing he does is preach.
As he preaches the people are astounded because he taught with authority, his own authority.
He doesn’t depend on other rabbis to back him up,
rather he simply proclaims what he knows to be true.
And to prove that he does indeed have the authority to speak for God he heals a man possess by a demon and everyone in that Synagogue was astounded.
It is important to notice that he does not heal the man by touching him.
He doesn’t need any kind of medicine to free this man from his burden.
Jesus’ word alone has the power to drive the demon from the man.
And so in the Gospel of Mark
from the very first moment of his public ministry
the evangelist wants to make it crystal clear that Jesus does in fact have power and authority.
He wants the reader to understand that is no ordinary Man speaking.
Catholics believe that Jesus’ Word has been passed down to us in two forms,
the scriptures which we hear every Sunday,
and the living tradition of the Church.
Today the Gospel calls us to ask ourselves how we view God’s Word?
How do we understand the place of God’s word in our lives?
Are the Gospels a collection of nice feel good stories or are they God’s Word?
Do we give the Gospels and the living tradition of the Church authority in our lives?
Do we model our words
and our lives
and our dreams after the Word of God
found in the scriptures and the tradition of the Church?
If we just feel comfortable after every Mass,
If we come only expecting to be entertained,
if the Gospel never challenges us,
then maybe just maybe we missed the point.
Just like Jesus healed the man in Capernam
He can free us from out demons too.
May the Word of Jesus,
the Word of God,
challenge us,
mold us,
heal us, and inspire us Amen
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