|  | Daily Bible Reflections Archive
 |
Theo Tigno•
1/11/2005 11:30 am
Reply To Post
|
Tuesday, January 11th 2005 |
Mark 1:21-28
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are "the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for a special intention.
We see something in today's reading that should challenge us and make us question our obedience to Our Lord. In today's reading, we see an "unclean spirit" obey Our Lord.
"An unclean spirit: so called because of the spirit's resistance to the holiness of God. The spirit knows and fears the power of Jesus to destroy his influence" - New American Bible commentary
Satan's power is nothing compared to the "power of Jesus to destroy his influence." So what is Satan to do? Downplay his existence. Mask his influence in our lives. Ultimately, it is our free will to choose to follow Our Lord. We must recognize that there is someone who wants to draw us away from Our Lord; Satan is VERY real. We must also recognize that Jesus is the only One who can destroy the influence of Satan.
Brothers and sisters, that means that we must cling to the sacraments that much more, for Christ influence in our lives is greater than any influence Satan has over us. We must cling to prayer, knowing that through prayer and fasting, we can be purified IN CHRIST, and Christ can exorcise the "unclean spirits" that plague and influence us. Take care and God Bless.
|
|
| |
