Deut 18:15-20 / 1 Cor 7:32-35 / Mark 1:21-28
The world that we live in has many sights and sounds for us to interact with.
From what we see with our eyes, we will be able to make an assessment.
So, when we see beauty and goodness, we will give thanks to God for His marvellous works.
But when we see wrongdoing and wickedness, we would want to see how to stop it, and pray for God's help.
And from what we hear with our ears, we are also able to make an assessment.
When we hear what is good and inspiring, we will give thanks to God for His blessings.
But when we hear what is sad and bad, or irritating and disturbing, we too will have to do something.
In the gospel, Jesus was in the synagogue teaching. And His teaching made a deep impression on the people because He taught with authority.
Then, all of a sudden, there was some shouting, and it was irritating and disturbing.
It came from a man who was possessed by an unclean spirit, and it shouted: What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.
But Jesus said sharply, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” And with that, the unclean Spirit was cast out.
The people's assessment of what happened was this: He gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey Him.
The gospel passage highlights some important aspects of the spiritual world that we need to take note of.
One of which is the power of God's Word. Whenever the Word of God is proclaimed, goodness is bestowed and evil is exposed.
Hence, conversion and repentance can only happen when the Word of God is proclaimed and obeyed.
To obey is to listen, and to listen with faith, so that the power and the goodness of God can be manifested.
There is a story of a poor woman who had a firm belief in God's providence through the charity of others.
On one occasion, her family didn't get any food for a few days.
She prayed and then wrote this notice on her front door: O God, please listen to my prayer and send us some food.
A rich atheist man passed by in his car and saw the notice, and he thought of doing something to shake her faith in God.
He instructed his driver to buy a lot of food and provisions, and have it delivered to that poor woman's house with this message:
This is not sent by your God, but is sent by the devil.
The driver did as he was told. He bought a lot of food and provisions, and went to that poor woman's house.
When the poor woman opened the door and saw the driver and all that food, she went down on her knees and praised and thanked God.
But the driver quickly said, “Wait, wait. This food is not sent by your God, but sent by the devil.
But the poor woman laughed and said, “God is so great. He provided all this food and He made the devil pay for it, and even sent it over. Thanks be to God!
Well, blessed are those who trust in God, He will provide for them.
And blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it, they will see the goodness and the marvels of God.
In the gospel, when Jesus gave the order, that evil spirit had to obey.
As for us, as we listen to the Word of God, let us also obey, and put God's word into action.
Let the Word of God also be read in our homes, in our meetings, and in every possible situation and occasion.
The Word of God brings about healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and love.
When we listen to the Word of God and obey it, we will see the power and the marvels of God.