Yesterday's readings set out what might be understood as a broad agenda using the Ordinary Time season of the Church's calendar to see in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God's message to each of us. Those readings were much like what we expect in an inaugural address -- a clarion call to walk with a new leader. Today's gospel story shows us that the Church is not delaying in giving us an opportunity to step back and watch this young teacher at work, to show where he is walking. It is a clear invitation to follow.Religion in the time of Jesus, especially Judaism, was confronting the evil spirits that were seen as challenging their God. Seeing evil spirits behind the many tragedies in our world today, however, seems not to be what many accept.
Read today's and every day's Washington Post. Encountering the reports of so much armed conflict, killing of young people, discrimination, abuse, abortion -- any inhuman activity, can anyone deny that evil is not just simply present in our society but powerfully present?
The encounter Jesus has with the young man clearly possessed by evil is given to us at the outset of this year's Ordinary Time readings to assure us one fact: there is evil in our world that cannot be brought to Jesus for his attention and divine assistance in overcoming it.
Hear Jesus speak to the man: "Quiet! Come out of him!" And it happened as Jesus commanded. Here at the outset of Ordinary Time's measured pace, Jesus offers you and me his assurances that he can overcome any evil. His death has become the power that overcomes evil.
Obliquely the incident in Mark's gospel account is both a reminder and a challenge to us. With the help of God -- if we but turn to him -- evil in our world can be suppressed ... even ended.
