OPEN YOUR HEART TO BE MOULDED BY THE POWER OF GOD'S LOVE

Mark 1:21-28

By. Fr. Andy Fani, SVD

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Have you ever felt amazed when you see something? If so, why do you feel amazed? Is it because the thing you see and observe is beyond your thinking? Is it beyond your ability to be able to do it? Is it because no one has ever been able to do such things before? I guess, that's the range of possibilities that make you and me feel amazed when we encounter something.

After being amazed, what happens to us? In my opinion, accompanied by a sense of awe in our minds, our eyes will be concentrated on that thing. Then our lips will chuckle in amazement so that our mouths may unintentionally praise and tell it to people who are not witnessing it, even often to other people who have seen it.

A sense of awe was also experienced by those who listened to Jesus' teaching, because Jesus taught as a man of authority, unlike the scribes. While the scribes taught only with words, Jesus came forth teaching with meaningful words and saving actions. Jesus taught with words full of power that could heal many people. Teaching makes people educated, educates people in life to know the difference between good and bad things. As the bearer of good news, the things Jesus taught were good things that could change the mindset and lifestyle of many people.

Many people were also amazed at Jesus' act of casting out an unclean spirit from the body of a Capernaum resident. The unclean spirit knew that Jesus was "the Holy One of God". The evil spirit that possessed the man did not want Jesus' presence, but it had no power to resist or go against Jesus' command for it to come out of his possessed body. The unclean spirit was unable to disturb or hinder Jesus.

Many people were amazed to see divine power at work in Jesus' ministry, both in teaching them and in casting out unclean spirits. Jesus cast out evil spirits with words only, not with other powers as most healers did at that time. Here Mark wants to present an understanding that what Jesus taught was not empty words but a powerful word about God's power to save us. Jesus' teaching and actions reveal the divinity of God.

My dear brothers and sisters. Our life is the work of God's love. If we realise this, then we will be amazed and we can only give thanks for God's love in our lives.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to open ourselves up by giving God full authority over our lives. We must be a humble person by being open to be guided and led by the power of God. We must always be ready to open ourselves to be renewed and moulded by the power of God. By opening ourselves to be guided by God's power, we will be able to resist the bad influences of evil spirits that are often present in our lives.

We are also called to learn from Jesus, by listening to His words and putting those words into action in our daily lives. The Apostle James says "Faith without works is dead". These words invite us to imitate the attitudes and actions of Christ in our lives. Jesus not only taught the good news, but also made Himself the good news for us. May our presence also be good news and a blessing to others we meet every day.

PEACE BE WITH YOU