GOSPEL POWER - JANUARY 12, 2021 - TUESDAY

Gospel: Mk 1:21-28

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

REFLECTION

Mark opens his Gospel account with a confession of his own faith that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. He portrays him as the One empowered by the Spirit to be the restorer of God’s original order in creation. Mark honestly depicts how Jesus’ contemporaries react to him, but he also challenges us, today’s readers, to take our own stand. Every episode he narrates is an invitation to share his faith. In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins his work of restoration by means of word and deed. But it is hard to tell from the people’s reactions whether the seed of faith is beginning to take root in their hearts. Their astonishment at Jesus’ authoritative teaching and their amazement at his powerful exorcism are spontaneous human responses to extraordinary manifestations. Astonishment can become a stepping-stone to genuine faith or merely lead to fanatic admiration and devotion. The decision is ours.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, may our encounters with you through the Gospel of Mark lead us to a deeper faith-commitment. Amen.