Reading
Mk 1:21-28
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Meditation
Capernaum is never mentioned in the Old Testament, but recurs in all four canonical Gospels. It was a prosperous fishing town, northwest of the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus made it a kind of headquarters after his departure from Nazareth. In this episode of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus goes to the synagogue of the town to teach.
While sacrifices could only be offered at the temple in Jerusalem, people gather in the synagogues every Saturday to pray and read the Scriptures (and this happen still today). Synagogues was founded during the Babylonian exile after Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, but they also spread to Israel after the captivity, as a place of worship and education.
Anyone present could speak during the Sabbatical worship. The evangelist's emphasis is placed not only on the nature of Jesus' teaching - "a new doctrine" - but on its effects, on the ability to "strike" consciences; This is the meaning of the Greek verb ekplessomai, from plege, "blow", which summarizes, in this context, a strong experience, which leaves its mark. The authoritative force of Jesus' teaching is in direct contrast to that of the scribes; these, in fact, although experts in the Scriptures, based their authority on that of other teachers, while the teaching of Jesus is direct, genuine, capable of questioning the conscience of his listeners.
As Christians we have behind us a treasure of over two thousand years of theological reflection, from the writings of the Fathers of the Church to the speculations of medieval scholasticism, from the biblical commentaries of the reformers to the most recent achievements of biblical philology and archeology. All this helps us to approach the Word, shortens the distance between our time and his, helping us to understand its meaning and context; but all this taken by itself is not sufficient if a personal encounter with Christ is not achieved through the Word of God. Even the devil showed that he knew the Scriptures well when he tempted Jesus in the desert, and he addressed him as the Son of God. But it is one thing to recognize Jesus, another thing is to welcome Jesus. This can only be realized for us if we know how to seek the Spirit beyond the letter.
The episode of the possessed man in the synagogue of Capernaum and other exorcisms performed by Jesus show that Satan and his demons oppose him throughout his ministry, which culminated with the cross. Jesus always triumphs over the useless efforts of the evil one, demonstrating his ultimate victory with the resurrection. The demons are perfectly aware that they and Jesus belong to two completely different realms (v. 24).
Christ's authority is confirmed as much by the power of his preaching as by the miracles that accompany it. This close link between the two activities, particularly evident in Mark's Gospel, represents the intimate purpose of his plan of salvation, which consists in the victory over Satan and in the liberation of souls from evil.
The spirit that torments the possessed person of Capernaum - defined as "impure" due to its nature contrary to God - demonstrates that it knows where Jesus comes from - Nazareth - and recognizes him as "the Holy One of God". This should be enough to keep us safe from any "Gnostic" conception of Christianity: even Satan knows who Christ is, but it will not be simply recognizing him as such to give us salvation: "unless you repent, you too will all perish" ( Lk 13: 3).
The way in which Jesus frees the possessed person generates astonishment in those present: no "spell", no long prayer; a few simple and direct words are enough for him: «Be quiet! Come out of him!». This liberation is not achieved in a peaceful way: the impure spirit "shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek." (v. 26). The liberation from the "demons" that keep us tied to our fears can happen for us in a painful way, but the Word of God restores us to the image of the glory of Christ if we welcome it with faith.
Prayer
Deliver us, o Lord, from oppression and from every snare of the Evil One, so that, restored to the freedom of the children of God, we can rejoice in your gospel of salvation. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
