Miracles

Gospel - Mark [9, 14-29]

They went out and presented him with a mute demon-possessed man. And after the devil was cast out, that dumb man began to speak and the crowd, taken by amazement, said: "Such a thing has never been seen in Israel!". But the Pharisees said: "He casts out demons by the prince of demons".

Exegesis - Gospel Mark [9, 14-29]

We have reached the end of Chapter Nine, after the Evangelist Matthew narrates the healing of a paralytic lying on his bed, the return to life of the daughter of Jairus, the healing of the haemorrhagic woman and the two blind men.

Now Matthew tells us about the healing of a man who could not speak because of a devil, highlighting the contrast of the two reactions: on the one hand the amazement and the wonder of the crowd for the multitude of wonders, the speed and the way that they are operated on; on the other hand, the anger of the Pharisees, who, unable to deny the facts, appeal to a false and infamous accusation: "He casts out demons by the prince of demons".

We find Jesus' answer in the third chapter of Mark: "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided within itself, that kingdom cannot stand; if a house is divided within itself, that house cannot stand. In the same way, if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot resist, but is about to end [...].

Truly I tell you: all sins will be forgiven the children of men and also all the blasphemies they will speak; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will have no forgiveness for ever: he will be guilty of eternal guilt". And this Jesus enunciates it because of him they said:" He is possessed by an unclean spirit".
(Mk 3,23-30).

The only unforgivable sin is attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to an evil spirit, as the Jews did with Jesus: not being able to recognize the Son of man for what he is can be understandable and even forgivable, but not being able to recognizing the source of its power is inexcusable. The opposition of the Jews arises from their wickedness and in the final judgment they will be severely judged for such blasphemies.

Jesus' message is a force that heals and frees people from all infirmities. These healings are images of an integral salvation that Jesus offers to all of us, as the evangelist could already see in his time, what was prophesied by Isaiah come true: "And yet, He bore our infirmities, and took upon himself our pains".
(Is 53,4).

The word of Jesus is a message of life and salvation that only faith can illuminate: with it and through it you will be able to see that treasure that Jesus speaks of when he says "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field; a man he finds it and hides it again; then he goes, full of joy, sells all his possessions and buys that field".
(Mt 13,44-45).

Do not let yourself be diverted by the troublemakers, do not stop keeping the burning flame of hope burning and constantly feed your faith in Jesus, the "God who saves" and who wants us all free from those infirmities and sins that would not allow us to find our "hidden treasure", to enter the Kingdom of Heaven without delay.