Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B Mark 1.21-28

No one doubts that the history of the world has been influenced by great personalities. Many of them were excellent with words and great orators. They were able to move the masses with their ideas. However, this ability did not always serve good causes. Some are said to have been demagogues and to have been able to influence the masses by distorting facts and lying.

Jesus, too, was an excellent orator. Since he was God, his words brought salvation to the people. Even in the synagogue they marveled at his teachings and questioned one another: “What is this? A new teaching! And what power he has: even to unclean spirits he commands and they obey him.”

 The listeners perceive that Jesus’ words are incomparable to any other human words. Jesus does not behave like a demagogue, he does not use empty words, and he does not speak only human wisdom, but the word of God, the word of salvation and eternal life. His words heal, they set free, they bring restlessness to sinful hearts, but they also bring hope to those who receive them. Even the evil spirit trembles and cries out before them: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Hast thou come to destroy us? I know who you are: The Holy One of God.”

 We hear similar words from the devil today: ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Leave us alone! Leave us alone! Many people are girded by the evil spirit, they resist and cry out when Jesus addresses them when they feel his power. The writers of filthy literature and movies scream. Drug manufacturers scream. The manipulators of our children and youth are screaming. The mobsters and murderers scream. Shout the minions of the sex god. The supporters of homosexual marriage are shouting in the squares of Europe. But, sadly, simple Christians often cry out too when they feel the word of Jesus “squeezing” into their lives.

We may not all be able to speak passionately about our faith. All the more so should our “preaching” be exemplary Christian living. And even if we do sometimes speak out, let us not be on the side of those who hatefully shout at Jesus. Let us not say that everyone is entitled to all abominations and immoralities. Let us defend the interests of God on our planet! Let us not allow anyone to sully it! Let us not work in the service of the evil spirit!

Throughout history, word and speech have been used in the service of both good and evil. Let us be filled at this moment with the healing word of Jesus so that we may feel its liberating power and witness it in the world. There are very few projects in the world where the devil is not at work. He is not shouting today, but acting.