One of last year’s celebrated movies was “Everything Everywhere All at Once” – a tale of a middle-aged Chinese immigrant who is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
Our gospel is the story of a 30-something former refugee to Egypt swept up in an adventure in which he alone can save humanity. And the pace at which St. Mark tells the story it conjures up for me a potential subtitle: “Jesus: Everything, Everywhere All at Once.” In just this week’s reading Jesus has been baptized, anointed by the descending Holy Spirit, called the first disciples to follow him, taught with authority in the synagogue in Capernaum so that the people “were astonished at his teaching”, cast out a demon from a possessed person. Jesus not only speaks with authority — he also acts with power! The “amazed” bystanders acknowledge the teacher’s authority, yet they still have to ask: “What is this?” (v. 27).
In our gospel reading, Jesus and his disciples remain in Capernaum, a small fishing village on the northern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. Tradition has it that Simon Peter’s home is just across the way from the synagogue in Capernaum.
Yesterday’s scene which included the casting out of a demon almost stands in contrast with this gospel’s less dramatic healing. I would suggest that Mark intends the two stories to be read together. The first clue about their connectedness is that v. 29 begins “and immediately” (kai euthus – for some reason the translators of the NAB reduces the whole phrase to “On” losing the Greek intensity of the phrase). Let me just offer the following about the important contrasts between the first healing (1:21-28; casting out demons) and the second (1:29-31; cure of Peter’s mother-in-law):
- Man -v -Woman
- (holy place) synagogue -v- house (common place)
- (supernatural) unclean spirit -v- fever (natural)
There is no limit to Jesus’ power and authority. It is for all people, in all places, and in all circumstances (natural and supernatural).
He truly is “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and Savior of the Universe.
Image credit: Monastery Decani, South Wall, Christ’s Miracles (59) – Christ heals Peter’s Mother in Law | PD-US