He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him

TUESDAY 14 JANUARY (Mk 1,21-28)

Let us ask ourselves: how great, powerful and omnipotent is the Word of Jesus? In Holy Scripture no man of God has ever commanded an impure spirit. The only case of exorcism, however, it is an exorcism – it is not a question of diabolical possession, but of persecution and death – it is the one operated by Tobia on the suggestion of the Archangel Raphael: “He answered: “As regards the fish’s heart and liver, if you burn them so that the smoke surrounds a man or a woman who is afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, the affliction will leave him completely, and no demons will ever return to him again. And as for the gall, if you rub it on the eyes of a man who has cataracts, blowing into his eyes right on the cataracts, his sight will be restored”” (Tb 6,8-9). When they had finished eating and drinking, the girl’s parents wanted to retire. They brought the young man out of the dining room and led him into the bedroom. At this point Tobiah, mindful of Raphael’s instructions, took the fish’s liver and heart from the bag which he had with him, and placed them on the embers for the incense. The demon, repelled by the odor of the fish, fled into Upper Egypt; Raphael pursued him there and bound him hand and foot. Then Raphael returned immediately” (Tb 8,1-3). Jesus does not have to perform any ritual to drive away the unclean spirits. One word suffices: “Shut up! Get out of him!”, and the unclean spirit immediately must obey the command received. Not only is Jesus a man of God. He is the God through whom Lucifer was created in purity and holiness. Then he became impure and unclean by his pride. He who wanted to be like God, under no God, must now be under a man, who is however Man-God and God-Man. He tempted man. Now he must also obey the man. No creature might escape obedience to its Creator.

Satan is always the most astute among “the animals of the garden, that is of creation”. His purpose is only one: bringing Jesus the greatest possible damage and for this he reveals his identity: “You are the Holy One of God”. “You are the Messiah”. “You are the Christ”. But Jesus immediately orders him to be silent. He cannot reveal his mystery. It must remain hidden until the day before his Passion and Death. Today he must be recognized, confessed and accepted as the true man of God, his true Prophet, a true Person sent by God to preach conversion and faith in the Gospel. When the time comes, it will be He who reveals his identity to the world. Men too must know that their word, even if pure truth, must not always be told. There are no historical conditions for it to be accepted and produce fruits of life. If not accepted, it might produce fruits of death. Every truth has its time and moment. Whoever is in the Holy Spirit knows the time to talk and the time to keep quiet. Whoever walks following his instinct, his wickedness and his pride, speaks when he must be silent and is silent when he has to speak. Without the motion of the Spirit we will speak inappropriately, because we will always talk from the flesh, sin, deceit and illusion.

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he 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.

People see, makes the difference between Jesus and every other man. Jesus is not like the others. He is different, indeed he is the Different. Others speak. He speaks with authority. Others say. The Word of Jesus is order, command and obligation. Neither creation nor unclean spirits can subtract their obedience from it. Only man can refuse to obey. But the consequences will be disastrous for him, because they will be of eternal death. We did not believe in the Only Begotten Son of the Father given to us for our eternal redemption. Whoever does not obey must know what the consequences will be.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that we recognize Christ as our Saviour.