Jesus had just come from the
desert, dealing with his own demons in the form of Satan, before he exorcised
the demon that recognized his voice. Rita Nakashima Brock writes about Jesus'
authority arising from his knowledge of demons. “The image of Jesus as exorcist
is someone who has experienced his own demons. The temptation stories point to
the image of a wounded healer, to an image of one who by his own experience
understands vulnerability and internalized oppression.” (Journeys by Heart, Crossroad, 1991) –– Michelle Hargrave
Mark 1:21-28
If pressed, many of us could name
our personal demons. They may show up in us at unexpected moments, and in
strange ways. . . .
We must ask if this man with the
unclean spirit is not, also, us. Otherwise, the story has little meaning in our
lives. It would be easier to see ourselves as part of the crowd, surprised at
what they had seen happen. But even safely hidden in the crowd, people must
have wondered if Jesus would look at them next, and feared what he might see. .
. Are we willing to face our prejudices, our hatreds and our passions? This is
confession. We do it almost every Sunday, in general terms. But can we admit to
our own unclean spirits?
The preacher might also look at
Jesus' reaction to this outburst. Jesus faced the evil in this man, and was not
shocked. He was not frightened or appalled. He did not turn away in revulsion
or disgust. He did not throw up his hands in resignation. This is a word of
assurance for any who think Jesus would be repulsed if he truly knew them. He
faced the darkest side of this man, and told him this was not his true self.
The dark side did not need to control him. –– Hilda Parks
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
In the six verses just prior to
this passage, Moses tells the people that when they come into the Promised Land
they must not imitate the abhorrent practices of the peoples of other nations.
Here, Moses is specifically talking about magic and divination.
. . . God will provide a prophet to
take the place of Moses. . . . Moses' word to the people is to heed this
prophet who will be raised up or chosen by God. . . .
The prophet to come will speak
carefully on behalf of the LORD. The prophet will not speak his or her own
words but God's word. Similarly, the prophet to come will not speak in the name
of other gods but in the name of YHWH alone. –– Eric T. Myers
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
At issue here is whether Christians
are allowed to eat food sacrificed to idols. Further, the question is what
effect the actions of some have on others. As Paul puts it later in this letter
(13:1–13), love is of utmost importance especially in the relationships among
believers in the church. While the people to whom Paul is writing have certain
“knowledge” that others do not have and enjoy liberty that others do not, love
must take precedence, for love “builds up” the body of Christ. –– Eric T. Myers
Michelle Hargrave is
the pastor of the United Methodist Centenary Church in Mankato, Minnesota.
Eric T. Myers, a
former church musician, is pastor of Frederick Presbyterian Church in
Frederick, Maryland, and adjunct professor of worship at Wesley Theological
Seminary.
Hilda A. Parks,
ordained in the United Methodist Church, also holds a PhD in Liturgical Studies
from Drew University, Madison, New Jersey.
Homily Service 39, no. 2 (2006): 49-56.
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