Without skipping any passages we’ll make our way from chapter 1 through chapter 8—beginning with his baptism, which we heard Sunday, up until his feeding of the five thousand, and we’ll then take a break from this chronological reading of Mark’s Gospel until after the easter season, after Pentecost.
But during these short weeks of Ordinary Time before Lent, we will read of healings and exorcisms, parables and teachings and miracles. I love Mark’s Gospel and once memorized and could recite the order of the stories of Mark.
Mark, being the shortest Gospel, it can be read in a single sitting without too much effort. And often was read in its entirety to the early Church. So if you’ve never read Mark from beginning to end these are good days for such a practice.
St. Mark’s original audience was the ancient Romans who were very much like modern Americans—very practical, pragmatic people who emphasized deeds more than words, action more than theory. “Words, words, words” complained Polonius to Hamlet who just complained all the time without doing anything. We and the Romans would agree. For the Romans liked to get things done! In fact they conquered the world!
And in mark’s Gospel, Jesus is a man of action—a man who takes on the powers of evil; takes up his cross willingly; he cures diseases and even tames the powers of nature, “all things are subject to Him” as Hebrews stated in our first reading.
In today’s Gospel we see him commanding this demon to be silent. And Shakespeare would have loved the irony here. The Eternal Word made flesh, who is a man of action, exercises his power over evil through a word, and that word is to tell this noisy demon to be silent, and the demon, overwhelmed by the Word’s power, is muzzled, and through the Word, a possessed soul, silenced by the demon, is made free to speak and act again and proclaim God’s praises.
During Ordinary Time, we seek to imitate the Lord in the ordinary circumstances of our life, and we see from the start of the Gospel, that the Lord is a man of action, who doesn’t just complain about the fallen state of the world, but goes and does battle with evil to bring about the liberation of those captive, oppressed, and confused by evil.
In order to be effective instruments of the Lord, we must be united with Him in spirit and truth, so we do well to study his word, meditate upon his word, contemplate his word, receive his word in the sacraments, that we may be filled with his goodness, holiness, love, and power for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the preaching and teachings of the Pope, Bishops, and clergy may be a source of strength and guidance for the Holy Church.
That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.
For the liberation of those bound by evil, those committed to sin an error, those oppressed or possessed by evil spirits, and for the conversion of the hardest hearts.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.
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