January 28, 2018: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading:

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus 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. (Mark 1:21-28)

Reflection:

I have always wondered how the man with the unclean spirit felt when Jesus called out the evil one and the presence left his body. Did he feel freedom? Relief? Weightlessness? Gratitude? Was he afraid or confused by what had happened? Had he even realized that he was possessed? We never know what happens to this man — how he moves forward with his life. I hope that he went on to follow Jesus and to spread the Gospel — I hope that I would do that in his situation.

Action:

Has Jesus healed me at any time during my life? How did I feel? When did I become aware of the healing? How do I share with others about the healing Jesus has done in my life?