I’ve always thought it interesting that, as Mark tells it, the first miracle in Jesus’ public ministry was an exorcism. His first attack was on demons.
Mark tells us that Jesus taught in the synagogue “as one having authority,” but we’re not told what it is he taught (Mk 1:22). Mark is much more interested in telling us what Jesus did — he silenced demons; he freed a man from demonic possession. Again, Mark mentions Jesus’ teaching. He “amazed” everyone who heard him, but, look, he commanded unclean spirits! That Jesus was such a powerful exorcist is what seemed to amaze Mark. It’s not just the words of Jesus that matter, but his power too. Jesus is the strong one, the thaumaturge, the terror of demons, the commander of storms, the healer of disease: that seems to be the point Mark wants to get across.
So, how are we supposed to take this, we modern sophisticates? I think here of the words of that clever demon, Screwtape: “Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves.” The Gospels remind us at the very least that our modern materialism, our immanent, banal rationalism, is — in the grand scheme of human perception — a minority view. There are indeed more things in heaven and earth than we can dream of; the Gospels pull us into a world both visible and invisible. This simply is a matter of dogma for Catholics. We admit as much in the creed each Sunday.
Jesus’ power
But that’s not what I want to focus on. Rather, what I find interesting in Mark’s apparent fascination more with Jesus’s deeds than with his words is that it underlines a simple truth; and that is that Jesus does indeed have power. Jesus is indeed the strong one. He can indeed heal. He can change you.
| January 28 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
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Dt 18:15-20 Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9 1 Cor 7:32-35 Mk 1:21-28 |
But is that how we think of Jesus today? We indeed may search the Gospels for his words of wisdom, for moral vignettes that we can interpret, allegorize and learn from; we may even wonder at the miracles he wrought such as his Resurrection. But do we believe that Jesus has the power to heal us today? Do we believe Jesus can be the strong one in our lives today? That’s a more immediate spiritual question, closer to the bone. Is Jesus as powerful in your life as he was in the life of that nameless man liberated from demons? Or do you not want Jesus to be that powerful in your life? Do you only want to learn from Jesus at your convenience? Do you not want him to change you?
That’s what I’m getting at: it seems that we must allow Jesus to exercise power in our lives. Jesus is not an influencer. He’s Lord. What I’m trying to say is that to be a Christian requires more than mere willingness to learn from Jesus; it takes being willing to let him work powerfully in your life.
But this would demand you give Jesus your entire will. It would require radical obedience. And that’s precisely the hard sell. We don’t want to give Jesus everything; we’d rather be free to take conveniently what we want. We want to be consumers of Jesus and not disciples of Jesus.
Which makes me think of that sad line from later in Mark’s Gospel about Jesus’s experience in Nazareth, how he could do not mighty works there (cf. Mk 6:5). Maybe that’s part of the reason why.
And that’s the question. It’s a very difficult one. How can I let Jesus have the power in my life that he desires? How can I decrease so that Jesus can increase? I wish I had more sage advice for you here. I wish I was holy enough to give you more insight, but I’m not and I don’t. But maybe it’s enough for me to say that if you’re struggling like me to give Jesus the power he desires, struggling like me to sacrifice the will, then you’re on the right track. I do believe it. And so, keep struggling. Don’t give up. Because victory is indeed certain so long as you refuse to quit.
