How in our place and time can we relate to what’s going on in this Gospel? Talking about evil or demons either is a little out of our experience much less comfort zone. Mark’s account of the exorcism in the temple on the Sabbath in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28 ), makes us a little uncomfortable and maybe the need to explain what cannot be explained is troubling. Yet there is something about this reading that compels us beyond the narrative. We get a sense of immediacy and a bias for action that characterizes Jesus’ behavior. He is in control and taking charge of business. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Did Jesus purposefully wait for the Sabbath to enter the synagogue to teach? If so, this act alone established his authority. And isn’t it ironic that the one who knows Jesus is the man with the unclean spirit: .
Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany are behind us and we are waiting for the fast-approaching season of Lent in two weeks, followed by an “early” Easter. Ordinary time as the Lectionary calls it, is anything but “ordinary” and not just a place-holder. Jesus wasn’t just waiting and checking off the boxes as he went about his ministry. Jesus, we are told, is on fire and came as scripture reminds us “to set the world on fire”; he is taking on the evil of the world that of all places resides in the synagogue, a place of worship. He is shaking up a religion based on rules and proclaiming a faith based on love…he preaches on the Sabbath and heals a man possessed… all of which will “purposely”(?) incur the wrath of those who exploit religion and will someday have him executed. No, ordinary time is a time of transformation an awakening to a new way.
As I reflect on this past year of imposed seclusion, 2020 was a time of waiting for what we hoped would have been an all-clear signal sounding our return to”life as usual.” At a 30,000 feet, the turning of the calendar pages of 2020 gave every indication that we were dealing with an ordinary year. The pages turned and the seasons passed, oblivious to the goings on in the world. Yet at ground level, just as in the time of Jesus, the days, weeks and months were turbulent and far from “ordinary.” The year 2020 was hardly a place holder for 2021 and based on current events, the turbulence continues… unimpressed by its new “address,” making us wonder how little the calendar has to do with the passage of time in eternity. Of course, the imminent passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in that year remains the sentinel incarnation of our faith and our salvation. But were His times any more turbulent than ours?
Now
back to exorcisms and evil and how this relates to us today in the here and
now. Our epiphany calls us to see something in a way we never saw before. It
sets the stage for personal transformation, in which our eyes are opened to a
new understanding. In Gerald May’s Dark Night of the Soul, he talks
about Mystery and Freedom. We become comfortable with things we can’t explain
when we are comfortable in the knowledge that we don’t have to explain them and
we allow the words to speak to us for what they mean and what they say.
Sometimes transformation requires that we enter a dark period, outside our
comfort zones before we are able to see things in a new way. We must be rid of
those demons that disrupt our journey. We must open our hearts and actively
listen. Yes, demons and evil exist and we must wait to hear "Be silent,
and come out of him!"
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