In the gospel of today’s Mass, we hear the encounter between Jesus and the man possessed by an “unclean spirit” in the synagogue in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28). Even while crying out in opposition to Jesus, we hear the unclean spirit proclaim Jesus for whom he really is – “the Holy One of God”. Jesus presents himself to the man, drives out the unclean spirit, and heals the man.
This encounter provides a glimpse into our own lives and what Jesus can do for us.
As he did for that man two thousand years ago, Jesus presents himself to us and helps us turn away from whatever “unclean spirit” we might allow to reside in us. Jesus presents himself to us and helps us to shed those sinful attitudes, behaviors, and actions that separate us from God and each other, those things that create obstacles to a deepening relationship with God and each other. Jesus presents himself to us and helps us rid 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 desires for us.
Sometimes, just like that unclean spirit in the Capernaum synogogue, while acknowledging Jesus for whom he truly is we still resist him and find ourselves living in opposition to God. But of course, our saving grace is Jesus – presenting himself to us at all times, never abandoning us, never giving up on us. It is Jesus who helps us turn away from our self-centered ways and turn ourselves back to God and others. It is Jesus who cleanses us. It is Jesus who saves us.
So, we keep moving forward. We place ourselves before Jesus. We do this every day. We acknowledge Jesus for who he truly is – “the Holy One of God”, our Lord and Savior – so that Jesus might be fully present to us. We allow Jesus to penetrate our being, and to change our lives for the better. We open ourselves to Jesus’ redemptive love and mercy so that we can be all that we were meant to be for God, for each other, and for ourselves. And we thank Jesus for all of this, each and every day.