The Cure of a Demoniac

Today's Reflections 

 

                       

The Cure of a Demoniac 

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Mk 1:21-28

²¹[Jesus and his disciples] came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath [Jesus] entered the synagogue and taught. ²²The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. ²³In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; ²⁴he 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!” ²⁵Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” ²⁶The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. ²⁷All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

ALL WERE AMAZED. The people of Capernaum marvel at the teaching of Jesus. They are even more astonished when Jesus expels the unclean spirit from a demoniac. They see that, unlike the scribes, Jesus teaches with an authority that even unclean spirits obey. The demoniac proclaims him “the Holy One of God,” in an attempt to ward off Jesus’ power over him. But Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit and casts him out of the man. As the people affirm, Jesus shows God’s marvelous works and makes people feel God’s holy presence.

“The Lord remembered her.” At the Lord’s temple Hannah prays for a son so fervently that the priest Eli thinks she is drunk. But Hannah explains her deep sorrow and misery to the priest who sends her home with the prayer that God will grant her petition. And true enough, Hannah conceives and gives birth to a son whom she names Samuel, since she has asked the Lord for him, and God has remembered her and done something great for her.

How grateful are you for the favors God gives you?

When God remembers you

and heals your afflictions, say,

“Oh God, I feel your holiness in me. I praise you!”