Tuesday, January 11, 2022

 Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 1:9-20; Mark 1:21-28)

Jesus’ teaching threatens evil spirits.  He speaks “with authority.”  What can this mean but that he does not waver on right and wrong?  He goes to the heart of the matter calling lust a sin as well as adultery and vengeance a sin as well as murder.  As he pinpoints the sections of the human heart that require attention, people give assent while devils recoil.

Jesus speaks with such authority at a cost.  The evil spirits will regroup to eliminate Jesus.  In the end they will be only marginally successful.  They will bring about Jesus’ death in the most horrible of ways.  But God, the just judge, will raise him from the dead.  In the process He will send evil spirits packing, at least from those who trust in Jesus.

Let us take heed of what is happening.  It is not enough to be amazed like the people at the Capernaum synagogue.  We have to entrust ourselves to Jesus’ care.  This means to do as he tells us and not to flirt with his enemies.   

No comments: