Day 156: Jesus Casts Out Demons

Today's readings: Mark 5-6 and Psalm 21.

I. Mark 5 Jesus heals a man possessed by demons, heals a woman who touched his garment, and raises a girl from the dead. These miracles foreshadow Christ's ultimate victory over death through His Resurrection, for He is Lord over demons, disease, and even death. Faith in Him brings healing, restoration, and life.

I like how the BIY Companion, Vol II, comments on the freeing of the demoniac:

In the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus sends the demons into a herd of two thousand pigs. For Jesus, one person is worth infinitely more than even two thousand pigs, though the pigs are valuable. This shows us how much the Lord cares for each of us. (p. 76)

In the next chapter, Jesus is rejected in His own hometown of Nazareth because they knew Him only as a simple carpenter. This shows that familiarity with Jesus doesn't necessarily produce faith. He next sends out the Twelve Apostles with authority to preach the Gospel. Then news of St. John the Baptist's martyrdom at the hands of King Herod becomes known, and it also foreshadows the suffering and death of Christ. Five thousand are miraculously fed from five loaves and two fish, anticipating the Eucharist and revealing Jesus as the divine provider who nourishes His people. Jesus astonishes the Twelve by walking on the Sea of Galilee, telling them to "take heart" and "do not be afraid" (Mark 6:50). Finally, He heals the sick at Gennesaret. Christ's healing power works through His humanity, which demonstrates that God can communicate grace through material signs.

II. Psalm 21 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A royal psalm. It praises God for blessing the king in the past and promises his assistance in the future. The opening and closing verses stress that the Lord is the real power behind the throne. It is only by divine help that the king has become great. Some read the psalm as a liturgy of thanksgiving, perhaps conducted on the anniversary of the king's coronation. (p. 846)

I've been away for a while and am now finally returning to this. That's all for today!