Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.
- Deuteronomy 18:15-20
- 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
- Mark 1:21-28
It was an overcast, gray day. The entire Pauline family seemed more quiet this morning. Maybe it was the additional snow that has fallen last night. Maybe it was staying up a little later to finish the movie they had rented. Everyone seemed to be moving at half speed.
Dad gathered the family for the weekly reading of the Sunday Gospel. He read from the Gospel of Mark. When he was through, he asked, “Okay, who wants to help us all understand the message for this morning?”
He looked at a table of blank faces.
“Vincent, how about you?” Dad asked.
“Ah, Dad, that’s the priest’s job during the homily!” Vincent offered as he slouched in his chair.
“Vincent … ” Dad lamented.
“Well, you know, this one is all about the unclean spirit or the devil. I do not like talking about the devil!” Vincent squirmed.
Dad explained, “Well, Vincent, unfortunately, unclean spirits are around. But Jesus is the Savior of the world. And in the reading today, we hear that Jesus, using His own authority, can drive evil spirits away.”
Mom added, “And word traveled fast that Jesus could do that. People were amazed that unclean spirits obeyed Him!”
“How was it that the unclean spirit obeyed Jesus?” Mary Clare asked.
“Well,” Dad answered. “Even though they were evil, they had the knowledge and supernatural ability to recognize His holiness, and had to do as He commanded. Jesus has power over the Evil One.”
Just then, sunshine started beaming through the windows. The grayness and the heavy mood seemed to lift instantly from the family as they all looked at the bright, golden rays.
“Jesus even has power over the gloomies!” Lucy shouted, and everyone laughed!
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