杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

Addressing the faithful on the fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time from the Library of the Apostolic Palace, the 杏MAP导航 reflected on the reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mk 1: 21-28), that he explained, tells of a typical day in Jesus鈥� ministry: The Sabbath, a day dedicated to repose and prayer.

He described the reaction of those present in the synagogue of Capernaum where Jesus was reading and commenting on the Scriptures.

They were attracted by His manner of speaking, the 杏MAP导航 said, and they were astonished because Jesus demonstrates an authority different to that of the scribes.

Furthermore, he said, 鈥淛esus shows Himself to be powerful also in His works. Indeed, a man of the synagogue turns to Him, addressing Him as God鈥檚 envoy: He recognises the evil spirit, orders him to leave that man, and so drives him out.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 said the reading highlights two characteristic elements of Jesus鈥� work: 鈥減reaching, and the thaumaturgical work of the healer.鈥�

Jesus preaches with the authority of God

He added that preaching is emphasised the most, while 鈥渆xorcism鈥� is presented as a confirmation of the singular 鈥渁uthority鈥� of Jesus and His teaching.

Jesus, he explained, preaches with His own authority, 鈥渁s one who possesses a doctrine derived from himself, and not like the scribes who repeated previous traditions and laws,鈥� it has the same authority as God who speaks, 鈥渇or with a single command He easily frees the possessed man from the evil one, and heals him.鈥�

鈥淗is word brings into effect what He says, because He is the ultimate prophet; indeed, He is the very Word of God incarnate. That is why He speaks with divine authority,鈥� he said.

He defeats the evil present in the world

The second aspect, healing, 杏MAP导航 Francis continued, shows that Christ鈥檚 preaching is intended to defeat the evil present in humankind and the world.

鈥淗is word points directly at the kingdom of Satan: it puts him in crisis and makes him recoil, obliging him to leave the world,鈥� he said, noting that the possessed man in the synagogue, 鈥渞eached by the Lord鈥檚 command, is freed and transformed into a new person.鈥�

Jesus鈥� preaching, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渃onforms to a logic contrary to that of the world and of the evil one: His words appear to be the upheaval of a mistaken order of things.鈥�

In fact, the demon who has possessed the man cries out as Jesus approaches: 鈥淲hat have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?鈥�

These words, 杏MAP导航 Francis explained, indicated the total extraneousness between Jesus and Satan: 鈥渢hey are on completely different planes; there is nothing in common between them; they are the opposite of each other.鈥�

Carry the Gospel with you every day

The 杏MAP导航 said that this Sunday鈥檚 Gospel should inspire in us too some of the admiration and wonder that the people of Capernaum felt as they listened to Jesus, that Sabbath day, in the synagogue.

And he invited believers to always carry a copy of the Gospel with them and to delve into it with an open heart, allowing themselves to be touched and healed by God鈥檚 Word and promise of salvation.

鈥淢ay the Virgin Mary, who always kept Jesus鈥� words and gestures in her heart, and followed Him with total willingness and faithfulness,鈥� he concluded, 鈥渉elp us to listen to Him and follow Him, to experience the signs of His salvation in our life.鈥�