FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

2/1/09  GOSPEL:  MARK 1:21-28

“He taught them as one having authority.”

  For many, the word “exorcist” recalls the 1973 film of the same name.  Nearly four decades have passed and people are still talking about it.  Who could forget the terrifying image of actress Linda Blair’s head making a slow 360 degree turn as evil light burns from her eyes?  Author Peter Blatty, who wrote the Exorcist novel and the screenplay for the film, was inspired by hearing about an actual documented exorcism performed by a Catholic priest on a 14 year old boy in 1949. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus drives an evil spirit out of a man who came into the synagogue at Capernaum.  It was the first time that Jesus used his power over demonic possession, and the news of the dramatic results spread quickly throughout Galilee.  An over 2,000 years later, we are still talking about it!