Reflection for January 12, Tuesday of the First Week; Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

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

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Reflection:

What would we get if we are taught by someone without authority? We get nothing from it. Would we still go and listen to him? Of course not! We would prefer to go and listen to the person who teaches with authority and conviction.

Jesus teaches both with authority and conviction that’s why when He entered the synagogue and taught there. Everyone was captured in amazement and admiration. It was further reinforced when they saw Jesus rebuked and commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man whom it has possessed.

Jesus still talks to us with authority and conviction up to this very moment it happens when we read the bible specially His proclamations. If we would be serious in our bible readings/study we would be able to discern Jesus directly speaking to us. But the big question is do we read our bibles? Or it is just in the corner gathering dust.

The man possessed with an unclean spirit immediately sensed the presence of Jesus that’s why when Jesus said: “"Quiet! Come out of him!" It instantly convulsed and was immediately freed from evil possession.

This is also what Jesus will do in our life if we would allow Him to speak to us by reading the bible.  If we would allow Him to speak to us through our pious presence at Holy Mass.

He will drive out all the demons of this material world that is slowly enslaving us. These demons/unclean spirit are the following: Our greed, our lust for the flesh our egotism and the like. – Marino J. Dasmarinas