We start of “ordinary time” this year reading from St. Mark’s gospel. One way of describing the first chapter is “what a week with Jesus.” Mark wants us to encounter the Lord and so he introduces him entering into the divinely appointed mission. Jesus begins as a preacher and proclaimer, picking up John the Baptist’s theme of repentence but adding his own message of “the kingdom of God is at hand.” Then Jesus gathers followers, a community who will embody the new Israel. In today’s text Jesus shows divine power by driving out the demons and tomorrow we will see him in action as a healer. On Friday Jesus is shown as forgiving sins and on Saturday he invites everyone, worthy or not, into a fellowship meal which foreshadows the heavenly banquet. However, as Mark goes on to describe people still don’t get Jesus. Even his disciples don’t understand who he truly is. Ironically, only the demons recognize him. “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” It is not until after the resurrection that his followers know the foundational truth.
