Most people will miss what is happening in today’s Gospel. Most of us modern day listeners would tend to focus on the expulsion of the demons and lose the rest of the importance in today’s Gospel. Then we even tend to explain away the expulsion using modern science, medicine, and psychology.
Capernaum was a big commercial and cultural center on the Sea of Galilee. The city had a large and beautiful synagogue. The ruins of that synagogue still exist today in Capernaum. The religious teachers at that time in Israel always centered their teachings on tradition and they would cite their teachers as a source of authority. Theoretically they could cite the sequence of their teachers all the way back to Moses. All Old Testament teachings rested on the shoulders of Moses as the receiver of God’s Law for Israel.
What impressed the people of Capernaum, first of all, was Jesus’ style and personal authority. Mark, the evangelist, goes to great pains to indicate how the people were astonished by Jesus’ teachings. Specifically using the word astonished, Mark goes on to explain that Jesus did not teach like the other scribes and teachers. Jesus’ teachings flow out of his life as part of the Holy Trinity. He was not just repeating important traditions and doctrine, he was announcing his own personal experience to the people in Capernaum. This is what made his teaching astonishing.
Then the healings, wonderful deeds, and expulsion of demons come as a sign to prove his authority and show the mercy and presence of God. These deeds come as a seal to the authority of Jesus’ teaching and preaching. These wonderful deeds show who Jesus is. In this second part of the story, Mark says that the people were amazed. The people allowed themselves to be amazed at the presence and action of God in their lives. This was not the same old repetition of important doctrine. This was not another good teacher, interesting preacher, or folk healer. This was a new astonishing and amazing presence of God in their lives.
Part of the evangelization process, that is announcing and sharing our faith, is living as amazed and astonished people, families, and communities. Showing our faith by living as astonished and amazed people is a sign of a true Christian family and community.
When is the last time you acted as someone amazed and astonished by God’s presence and action in your life?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.
Image: CANVA 04JAN2026 AI generated.