Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
The Gospel of Mark writer isn’t one to waste time or words. No genealogy of Jesus, no infant narrative. By 1:16, Jesus is calling the first disciples. And in today’s reading, he’s already teaching and casting out demons. It’s a breakneck pace, told in clear, simple language, almost like a thriller or action adventure book or movie.
Clearly, simply, we learn that while those at the synagogue are “astonished” at his teaching, it is the man with the unclean spirit who calls out Jesus for who He is: “The Holy One of God.” The reason, we’re told in the New American Bible notes, is that it was believed that naming an opposing spirit gave the namer mastery. Jesus demolishes that notion posthaste, curing the man. Then it’s on to the next miracle, with scarcely a moment for readers to catch their breaths.
Mark is my favorite Gospel for that exact reason: When we know who He is, there is no time to waste. (That is not to imply that prayer is wasted time. To the contrary, it may be the most challenging, active time of our day.) Wasted time is gossip and complaining. Wasted time is staying in bed for a half hour even though we’re not tired, just because. Wasted time is entertainment that doesn’t feed our souls, educate us, or challenge us. Take heed: The unclean spirit was right. If we know who He is, and attempt to show we know more than He does, we will be very unhappy with the result.
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