4th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B); January 28, 2024

Dt 18:15-20. Ps 95. 1 Cor 7:32-35. Mk 1:21-28

 Deacon Jim McFadden

This Sunday’s Gospel reading (cf. Mk 1:21-28) narrates the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in which he breaks into the world of illusion and of the demonic through his powerful word and deed. Our world, then as it is now, is one of darkness and sickness in which  our  communion with God, fellowship with each other, and harmony with Creation are threatened through the Evil One. Jesus is going to enter into this world and cast out what enslaves us.  While it looks like the world of exploitation, the objectification and vilification of human beings, and domination of the powerful over the weak is having its day, Jesus, however, teaches and lives in such a way that His Father’s way will eventually have His day, which is the day of Resurrection, which becomes the Day of Victory over darkness and possession.

So, we hear in the Gospel that Jesus with his small community of disciples has entered Capernaum, situated in the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. It was the city where Peter lived and which was the largest city in Galilee at that time. Jesus enters the synagogue of Capernaum on a Saturday and he begins teaching. We’re not told what Jesus taught because in Mark’s Gospel, his teachings are in his deeds and actions. But, we do know that his teachings left a profound impression because the people were astonished by his words. They do not sound like the ones they usually heard from the scribes because Jesus taught “as one having authority” (v. 21). Jesus taught differently because he didn’t have to back up everything with a quote and support his teachings with extrinsic authority.

Jesus speaks with authority because he is revealing himself as God’s Emissary and not some simple man from Nazareth who has to base his teaching solely on earlier traditions. Rather, Jesus’ words have the power of the Word of God because he is the Word of God!  When his listeners heard his teachings, they felt God’s Word, his very Presence.  Jesus knew what he was talking about. He was not some conveyor belt for someone else’s teachings but was teaching from what he knew. Jesus was teaching from “soul experience”: from his own experience of the Father which he knew before the beginning of time. Jesus spoke and acted in the person of God. He is Immanuel–God among us! He is the Second Person of the Trinity  in the Flesh! So, Jesus’ teachings have a natural conviction to it. It is the sort of wisdom that convicts and converts because it comes directly from God. That’s why the people were astonished.

At the same time, Jesus reveals himself to be powerful in deeds. In the synagogue of Capernaum, there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit, who shouts at Jesus: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” (v. 24a).

The answer to that is  “yes!” Jesus wants to deflate our dysfunction, which is   fueled by our overly inflated ego, which seeks to be in charge, to be in control, to be preoccupied with privilege, comfort, and security. If that becomes our posture before the reality of the Good News, we’re not going to be very happy because the Ego is simply too inflated and unreal to listen to the Truth which Jesus bears in his very Person.

But, as the Evil One gets close to Jesus, it recognizes Jesus for who he is: I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (v. 24c). The demon recognizes that Jesus is more than a wise teacher or a powerful healer. He is the prophet alluded to in our first reading from Deuteronomy who is the spokesperson for God-who speaks God’s words, in God’s name, and with God’s authority.

The Devil is telling the truth: Jesus came to destroy the devil, to ruin the demon, to defeat his nefarious plans for humanity. The unclean spirit recognizes the power of God and at the same time proclaims his holiness. This is an incredibly intense scene, which culminates when Jesus rebukes him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” (v. 25). That it! These few words from Jesus are enough to obtain victory over Satan, over the forces of darkness, who comes out of the man “convulsing him and crying out in a loud voice” (v. 26).

This dramatic scene illustrates that what God intended from the beginning of our lives that our hearts be temples of his presence not of the demonic or any negative influences that tear asunder our hearts.  So, Christ comes into our world, just as he did in Capernaum, and what does he find?  He finds the temple of our heart is filled with all sorts of things that are not of the divine power.  Money, security, comfort, world success, popularity, the esteem of others, sex—whatever it is, it has now taken the place that rightfully belongs to God.  Therefore, when Christ comes into our life, he will always have a cleansing role to play.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once talked about the “expulsive power” of Christ.  When you place Jesus in the center of your soul, he will expel all those things that don’t belong in that center and make them find their proper place. 

Brothers and sisters, our life can be very hard , but it’s also good because we have been given the great gift of Faith that enables us to know God, to be in intimate relationship, to have a purpose and destiny. We worship this God who is so powerful and so good that nothing can overcome us! We have a teacher and friend who will never abandon us and who shows us the way home and takes care of each and everyone one of us, especially when we are in need.

So, during these tumultuous times when we’re dealing with our own demons at a personal and societal level, let us follow the example of our Blessed Mother Mary, who returned to the Silence to be with God. As we immerse ourselves in the Quiet, may we hear the Word of God despite the din and cacophony of messages of the world. Let us be attentive to the most authentic and authoritative Word that there is: that of her Son, Jesus, who teaches us the meaning of our existence and delivers us from all that oppresses us, even of the Prince of Darkness. Amen.