Ken Overberg, S.J.

4th Sunday, February 1, 2009
 
During this liturgical year, we are reading the Gospel of Mark.  Over the years, as we hear the different gospels, we tend to merge the four stories into one.  But each gospel is very distinct, much more like a portrait of Jesus than a photo.  For example, Mark’s gospel begins with Jesus as an adult—there are no Christmas stories in this gospel.  His family thinks he is crazy; his disciples never really understand who he is.  Suffering is a necessary aspect of the Messiah’s life.
 
So it is important to try to listen to what Mark says, putting aside what we remember from the other gospels.  Recall that stories known in one part of the early Christian world may not have been known in other parts.  Indeed, of our four gospels, Mark’s was the first, written around 70, the year the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.  Matthew and Luke—15 or more years later—used Mark as the basis for their own gospels, but they changed some and added a lot of their own stories. Scholars do not know where Mark’s gospel was written nor by whom.
 
Today’s passage describes a day in the life of Jesus’ ministry—actually, part of a day. The day is continued in next week’s gospel.  Jesus teaches with authority and heals—both signs of last week’s announcement that the reign of God is at hand.  Because of the focus on powerful teaching, our first reading describes God’s promise of a new Moses. During these weeks the second reading comes from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.  Paul’s conviction that they lived in the last days before Christ’s coming in glory leads him to encourage new focus for their everyday living.  Almost 2000 years later, Vatican II offered a different view: that all disciples are equally called to holiness, called to express their discipleship precisely through engagement with the world.
 
Let’s listen to God’s word!

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The reign of God is at hand!  This simple proclamation reveals the heart of Jesus’ experience.  God’s loving and saving presence is breaking into the world.  So Mark tries to give his community a sense of what this bold statement means.  Jesus’ profound teaching stirs up prophetic images and reaches into the depths of the people’s hearts.  The gospel’s description of Jesus curing sickness is not meant to arouse astonishment but to teach about the way in which God’s rule is to destroy all forms of evil, spiritual and physical.  In his words and deeds, Jesus tells the people that God’s surprising reign is rich in awe and compassion and life.
 
The reign of God is at hand!  This astonishing good news remains true today, now, here in our midst.  God’s loving presence breaks into our lives.  Where?  In the challenging messages and actions of today’s prophets.  In the consoling moments of prayer.  In our community’s Eucharists.  In the gentle, forgiving persons in our lives. In compassionate and faithful service.
 
But unclean spirits, the demons, are also in our midst.  Alienation in our families, prejudice in our cities and hearts, vengeance and war in our world.  Or as Scripture scholar Walter Wink (in Engaging the Powers) puts it: “Our society is possessed, Christians as much as anyone.  We are possessed by violence, possessed by sex, possessed by money, possessed by drugs.”
 
It would be good for us, then, to take some time this week to discern both the demons and the reign of God in our midst—and act accordingly.  In your desire to follow Jesus as a disciple, how is God leading you to new life?