Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time – Mark 3:7-12
In today’s Gospel, Jesus and the disciples withdrew to the
sea. However, a large number of people
from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, and other regions followed them because they
had heard how Jesus had cured illnesses.
Thus, individuals who had various diseases came to Jesus hoping that
they also might be healed. The crowd of
people kept pressing upon Jesus. They longed
to touch him and be healed. When Jesus
realized that the crowd of people was growing, he asked his disciples to have a
boat ready for him so that the crowd would not overwhelm him.
Unclean spirits were also present in the crowd. When these unclean spirits saw Jesus, they
fell down in front of him and shouted, “You are the Son of God.” At these words, Jesus sternly ordered the
unclean spirits to be silent. They were
not to make him known.
We might think that the term “Son of God” was understood in
this early century as it typically is understood in our day and age. In Jesus’ day, other individuals were also
known as “sons of God” such as the kings and sons of the Egyptian gods. Many Roman emperors also received the title
“son of God.”
However, in the Old Testament, the name “son of God” typically
was used to refer to an individual who was especially near to God. Perhaps Jesus was called “the son of God”
since he was in union with God. The
demons in this Gospel immediately recognized Jesus and his holiness. Thus, the demons rightfully feared
Jesus. However, Jesus ordered the demons
not to make him known.
What is your unclean spirit?
We all have at least one unclean spirit and perhaps we have two or three
unclean spirits than occupy our bodies, minds or spirits. Today I invite you to identify one unclean
spirit from which you wish to be freed.
What is the healing you for which you long?
Go to Jesus today and sit with him for a while. Talk with him about your unclean spirit. Ask Jesus to drive out your unclean spirit
and make you whole again. Then sit
quietly for 15-20 minutes. Trust Jesus
to cleanse your mind and body of these spirits.
If you sense they are returning, once again sit quietly and ask Jesus to
cleanse you once again. Eventually, the
spirits will leave you and you will experience peace. Trust that Jesus desires to heal you! Trust that he will heal you!
Each of us have such a unique and individual path in our walk with God, and I try to always remember this when I look at another person. I don’t know where they might be on their spiritual journey, and it is important that I treat them with tenderness and respect.
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