Holy Martyr Euplus (304)
2 Corinthians 6:11-16; Mark 1:23-28
Post-feast of the Transfiguration; Dormition Fast; Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read Mark 1:23-28
The few verses just before today’s Gospel selection convey how the people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching as He taught with authority. And again, after witnessing the exorcism of the demons from this man in the synagogue, they exclaim that He teaches with authority! But this, too, is a new teaching. No one before has taught with power to accomplish what has been taught. He commands demons and they obey.
The mission of our Lord Jesus was to reconcile everything to the Father. That means that all human beings are to be freed from captivity to evil. This is really Good News. It is good to be reminded of this. Each of us at our baptism were freed from captivity to evil, an we have been given to grace to be kept from evil day by day. Let us give thanks to the Lord for His love for us, for His power, and His authority. And let us marvel as they did that day! Blessed be God!