Our reading from Mark this Sunday reports Jesus visiting the synagogue in Capernaum on a Sabbath. We are told that He began to preach, and the people assembled there are amazed at what they hear. In contrast to the Scripture scholars of the day, He taught in such a way and with words that had such power that He touched them deeply. Our passage goes further to describe the power and authority of Jesus' words in healing a victim of demonic possession. There are four exorcism stories in Mark's Gospel and we are told elsewhere that such healings were very much a part of Jesus' ministry and confirm the power of His Word. Such miraculous healings were a sign revealing the approach of the Kingdom of God and the end of Satan's power over human beings.

While the incidence of such demonic possession in our own time may not be as widespread, there can be no doubt that the power of evil is still very much at work in our world, both at an individual and societal level. The cases of addiction, emotional and physical abuse, and distortions of the image of God that all of us bear are testimony that evil still sways the human heart. The wars and violence, the injustice that we see around the world also show that Satan is still at work. But we trust in the power of Jesus to help heal us individually, and also to bring peace to our world. Let us ask the Lord for His healing, and His power to help us as we work for greater peace and justice in our world and society.