In the gospel of today’s Mass, we hear of the encounter between Jesus and the man possessed by an “unclean spirit” (Mark 1:21-28). As Jesus approaches, we hear the man proclaim Jesus for whom he really is – “The Holy One of God”. We hear how Jesus presents himself before the man, drives out the unclean spirit, and heals the man.
It is remarkable how this encounter can be the same for us.
Jesus presents himself to us and helps us to turn away from whatever “unclean spirit” we might allow to reside in us. Jesus presents himself before us helping us to turn away from those things that make us “unclean”, those things that separate us from God and each other, those things that are obstacles to a deepening relationship with God and each other. Jesus presents himself to us and helps us to cleanse ourselves of those all-too-human tendencies – selfishness, misplaced pride, jealousy, intolerance, resentment, hatred – that keep us from achieving the wholeness, and the holiness, that God intends for us. It is Jesus, presenting himself to us at all times, who helps us turn away from our self-centered ways and turn back towards God and others.
So, like that possessed man two thousand years ago, we too place ourselves before Jesus. We acknowledge Jesus for who he really is – “The Holy One of God” – so that Jesus might be fully present to us. Like that possessed man, we allow Jesus to penetrate our being, and to change our lives for the better. We allow Jesus to bestow upon us his great love and mercy so that we can be all that we were meant to be for God, for each other, and for ourselves.