A POSSESSED MAN HEALED BY CHRIST (MARK 1:21-28)

Those who were healed by Christ made use of their new health in the service of Christ and of those in the service of God.

In the possessed man that Christ healed, He forbade the devil to reveal His identity, nay, not even to speak. . .because we should never listen to the devil though he speaks the truth. His speaking is directed towards our destruction. . .often mixing falsity with truth.

When the devil finds someone listening to him, he immediately injects errors. Thus, St. Paul shut the mouth of diviners, who were spokesmen of the wicked one. If you must receive commendations, it must never come from an unclean mouth.

Then Christ goes to pray, fast and perform good works. Though Christ did not have to pray, fast and perform good works, He was setting an example for us; and this is that preaching must be accompanied by prayer, fasting and good works. Otherwise, it is empty preaching.

(11-23-02)