Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“He taught them as one having authority.”

Gospel Reading: 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.

Have you ever heard someone who speaks with commanding authority? When they talk, you have no choice but to listen to them. When Christ spoke to his followers, the people were gripped by his message. He spoke with unbelievable authority because he was the authority. He knew the Word of God because He was the Word made flesh. Not only can he grip us with his Word, but his words can heal us. In today’s Gospel reading, we see how the word of God transformed a man. The power of the Word of God has the ability to cure us from anything that ails us including the demons that haunt our lives. Not only do we hear the testimony that Christ’s follower are mesmerized by his Word, but we hear a proclamation that Christ is the Messiah; “the Holy One of God.” However, this proclamation doesn’t come from one of Christ’s disciples but from an unclean spirit that has infected a man. Even Satan can recognize Christ and is under the control of the Word of God. Are you willing to submit to the Word of God? Are you willing to submit all that ails you? The Word of God is able to change your life. Through the love of God, he can cause the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the lame to walk. We are called to see Christ in our life, to open our ears to hear his Word so we can follow him where he leads us. It is time to experience the love and joy which Christ wants us to experience. It is time for us to submit to his authority.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Christ, you are the Messiah who came to save us from evil.

Open my eyes so I can see Christ in my life.

Open my ears so the Word of God can transform my life.

Give me the strength to walk with Christ every day of my life.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon