Breaking the Word

Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to

 him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,

 and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. Mk 3,8

Crowds follow him.

Main reason for flocking to him was because he was able to heal.

He was able to heal almost anyone of almost anything.

So there is stampede even at the sea shore!

But the author does not just leave us with the physical healing.

Jesus' extra-ordinary healing power operates on spiritual level.

He is challenged by evil forces as well.

Unclean spirits are the evil forces (non-physical powers)

that operate in man (within man).

These forces make the person to behave in such a way

as to make him behave less humanly.

These evil powers recognize the superior power and

they are ill at ease in the presence of the superior power.

Healing has to be both physical and spiritual.

Today many flock to the hospitals/doctor for healing.

They are rightly so.

Evil powers/forces which are also called unclean spirits

do affect men from within and affect their behaviours

which are noticed from without. Where do they run to?

Evil spirits fall to the ground only in the presence of the 

superior powers (JESUS/DIVINE)

Physically we are well/healed

Internally we are filled with powers.

Which power dwells within us?

Our behaviour will reveal.

Whatever may be, we need to flock to 

SUPERIOR POWER

Sabbath is an important practice at the time of Jesus. In fact, sabbath controlled all the activities of that day. Sabbath was considered to be holy and hence it was observed with minute details. Not only it was observed by a pious religious persons, but it was also, made to be observed by all, by these religious persons.

Jesus as a GOD MAN enters into the scene and gives a different  look at the situation. He is not there to deny/abolish the sabbath. He gives a different look at the problem.

There are certain things in life which cannot be controlled even by sabbath. Goodness and life are the essence of God and they are gifts of God shared with humanity.

So when a man practices goodness and respect for life, he is like God himself because he practices God’s characteristics. And God is not controlled by any law. Goodness and life also cannot be controlled by law.

And that is why Jesus raises these questions about sabbath and its relationship with goodness and life.

Mark 2, 23-28 said that person is above the law. Man was not for the sabbath. Today the same Jesus tells us that goodness and life are above the law.

So we can say that a person is above the law.

A person with goodness is also above the law.

A person with goodness and life is certainly above the law (St.Paul)

Are there persons around with goodness and life?

But we find, sad to say, too many laws.