Mark 1:21-28

Hebrews 2:5-12

Psalm 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9

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.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I see both good and evil around me, merciful works of love as well as selfish works of sin. I see both good and evil in my own life. I pray today that I may, with your grace, conquer evil in my life and be an agent for good in my family, my workplace, and my community.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Jesus Taught in the Synagogue: In the Gospel, Mark draws attention to how Jesus went about his ministry in Galilee. Jesus’ custom was to teach in the local synagogues, especially on the Sabbath, when the community gathered to hear the word of God. When Jesus preached, the people realized that the authority of his teaching was superior to that of the scribes. The teachings of the scribes were ineffective at loosening the grip of sin and evil on the human heart. Jesus’ word and teaching have an awesome purifying and healing divine power. They cast out darkness and evil. Jesus’ word is like seed that falls on both good and poor soil (Mark 4:1-20). The Word, sown by God and welcomed into human hearts, can produce abundant and supernatural fruit. The temptations and deceptions of the unclean spirits, who are fallen angels, cannot produce good fruit. Rather, these demons are like birds who take away the seed of God’s Word that falls on hardened and stubborn hearts (Mark 4:4, 15).

2. Overthrow of the Kingdom of Satan: The exorcism in the synagogue is a visible manifestation of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Satan. Earlier, Jesus announced the arrival of the Kingdom of God and called four fishermen to enter into the Kingdom. Today, Jesus battles the kingdom of the evil one, and, in the synagogue, casts the unclean spirit out of the man.  Two thousand years ago, the Word of God entered into a synagogue in Capernaum and taught. In like manner, the Word of God enters into our hearts and teaches us the way that leads to eternal life. Two thousand years ago, the Word of God cast out an unclean spirit. In like manner, the Word can conquer any evil in our hearts.  

3. Made Lower than the Angels: The Letter to the Hebrews argues that not only is Jesus superior to the angels as the Son of God, but that he was, for a little while, made lower than the angels. The Son of God, by his divine nature, is infinitely superior to the angels, but by assuming our human nature, the Son of God was made lower than the angels for a time. This mystery is anticipated in Psalm 8. The psalm begins by marveling at God’s creation and the exalted position of humanity. By nature, however, human beings are inferior to the angels. Angels are pure spirits and have superior intellectual powers. We are composites of body and spirit and our minds are much weaker and slow to understand. The psalm reads: “You have made [man] little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet.” This is a reflection on the creation story in Genesis and how God granted dominion over creation to humanity. The subjection of all things is truly fulfilled in Jesus, the New Adam. Jesus is the one who is truly crowned with glory and honor and possesses royal authority. In Christ, we are granted a share in God’s glory and royal authority.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, bless me and keep me safe. Shine your face upon me and be gracious to me. Turn your merciful face toward me and grant me your peace.

Living the Word of God: Do I realize how blessed I am to have access to God’s Word 24/7? Whether it is an encounter with God’s Word in prayer, in Scripture, or in the Eucharist, God’s Word is available to me at all times. How can I be more attentive to God’s word today? Can I read Psalm 8, for example, and bring it to prayer?