Each day on my way to work I get to have alone time with God. And, one of my daily prayers is a verse from Psalm 51, which
reads: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Today’s gospel story is Mark’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry following His baptism in the River Jordan.
Immediately preceding the story, Jesus has just called Peter, Andrew, James and John from their boats to follow him. And, he
leads them to Capernaum, his base of operations at the north end of the Sea of Galilee, to a synagogue-or large assembly-gathered
on the Sabbath. At that time a synagogue would have been a gathering outside as village assemblies did not yet construct
public buildings.
Here he encounters the man with the unclean spirit, which I believe could represent unclean spirits that sometimes affect us
all-leading us away from hope and toward despair. Jesus didn’t want the man in our Gospel story to have despair, so He casts
out the “unclean spirit” renewing him with hope. Jesus does not want us to be possessed by despair either and so
He avails himself to us to call on him to rebuke our unclean spirits as we grow in a spirit of hope in Him.
We learned today from Psalm 111 that “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This does not mean a fear of God’s wrath, but rather, the Greek noun for fear, ‘phobos’ refers to a reverential fear of displeasing God.
It’s my guess that many of you here today have faith in “The Holy One” but also doubt and fear on occasion. I’ve had faith in
the “Holy One” for as long as I can remember because God has been there for me for as long as I can remember. And, for as
long as I can remember I’ve been afraid I would just not measure up-that I would never measure up-that I was just not
worthy and would never be worthy; and, thereby, displease God.
This reverential fear of displeasing God is also an affirmation of a reverential faith, which leads me to call upon the light of “The
Holy One,” who then rebukes my despair and transforms it into hope. Hope that comes from the realization that while I’ll never
measure up or be worthy none of that matters because God loves and forgives and all I need do is be full of praise and
thanksgiving while continuing to strive to be a person who illuminates hope.
A little over a year ago I found myself to be 60 something and also 50 pounds over-weight. In my younger days I was able to
eat all my favorite foods, like hamburgers, ice cream and chocolate, and as long as I continued to exercise I was able to
keep my weight at a reasonable level. At age ’60 something’ this was no longer true and I could feel myself slipping into despair.
Despair because I was not in control-my weight and my age had gotten the upper hand.
Yet, again, the light of the Lord was with me, this time disguised as my wife, Susan; who, suggested that I join our local gym,
Fitness Works in Morro Bay, and at the same time consult the nutritionist included in their membership package. In one of my
rare, wiser moments, I took my wife’s advice and joined the gym and consulted with their nutritionist. Since then I have
followed the diet prescribed by the nutritionist, maintained a regular work-out routine and have been fortunate enough to
have lost those 50 extra pounds.
Jesus, the Holy One, was there for me, again. All I had to do was acknowledge Him and my spirit of despair was transformed-
transformed into hope. Hope not just in a return to a manageable weight but in the light of hope Himself. My initial doubt was
unable to hinder my faith that Jesus is always with me and always with you which leads me to a spirit of peace through my
recognition of God’s unconditional love for us all. I imagine some of you have similar stories of how God’s free gift of grace
has been there for you when you have had the good sense to believe it and accept it.
And while those pesky unclean spirits continue to wage their perpetual attempts at the infliction of despair they will never win
because the Lord, the light of hope shines through the darkness and rebukes them for all who accept the free gift of grace that
Jesus brings into the world.
And, I don’t think this free gift of grace is something Jesus expects that we should go bury in a field somewhere. No, my bet is that Jesus expects us to invest our gift by spreading the Good News of the light of His hope that casts out the darkness of
despair to those who are possessed by it; and then when He checks on our use of His precious gift he will find we have
invested it wisely through the multiplication of the light of His hope to our brothers and sisters whom we are called by Him to
love. And your report card at St. Benedict’s will be favorable thanks to your dedication to the care of your neighbors in this blessed community. When you feed, clothe and provide shelter to your neighbors you feed, clothe and provide shelter to Christ,
Himself.
So while the unclean spirits of fear and doubt continue their persistent attempt to inflict despair, we as thankful recipients of
the light of hope continue our efforts to infect others with the Good News that comes with the knowledge and acceptance of
the free gift of grace that never dies.
Brothers and sisters, you and I have been called to be laborers (by word or by deed) of the plentiful harvest that waits to be
showered in the Good News of Jesus Christ who shines through the darkness, rebukes the unclean spirits, and replaces them with
the armor of the light of hope. Those who walk in darkness see a great light because we share
that light of the Good News of the Holy One of God.
As we go forth from this place of light and hope on this Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, may we shine that same light on those to whom we are sent in the days ahead; and, in so doing, find our hearts cleansed and our spirits renewed.
AMEN
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