Sunday Readings: Deuteronomy 18.15-20; 1 Corinthians 7.32-35; Mark 1.21-28
Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. As soon as the Sabbath came, Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. People were amazed at his teaching because he taught as one having authority and not like the scribes. There was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. He cried out, “What do you want from us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him, “Be silent. Go out of the man” At that the unclean spirit convulsed the man violently and with a loud cry came out of him. The people were so astounded they kept asking one another,”What is this? A new teaching—with authority!” – Mark 1.21-27
Ambition may drive us, the desire to achieve an advanced degree or a high paying job.
The term unclean has its origins in the temple. The law keeps things with the potential to disrupt the holiness of the temple from coming in contact with the divine world the temple represents. The Jewish law calls such things unclean. They include certain animals, people when they have come in contact with the dead, women when they are menstruating or after giving birth. The word unclean also developed a moral sense, identifying vices that distance one from God.
All of us have the work of discerning the spirits that drive us. What possesses us? Desire for security can possess us, a willingness to do whatever a boss asks in order to pay the mortgage and provide health benefits for the family. Alcohol or chocolate or drugs can possess us, becoming a comfort in our stress or pain, more perfect and pliant than any human friend. Fear can stifle our creative selves or choke our voices. The unclean spirits are right to ask Jesus if he has come to destroy them. The answer is yes. Through healing and forgiveness Jesus claims us for wholeness.
- Who clamors for attention in your community of faith? In your family? In your business? What possesses them?
- What clamors for attention in yourself? What erodes your wholeness or the wholeness you seek?