Reading 1 Heb 2:5-12 It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. Instead, someone has testified somewhere:

What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, subjecting all things under his feet.

In "subjecting" all things to him, he left nothing not "subject to him." Yet at present we do not see "all things subject to him," but we do see Jesus "crowned with glory and honor" because he suffered death, he who "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels," that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them "brothers" saying:

I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands. O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?

You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet.

All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

From: Hebrews 2:5-12

Jesus, Man’s Brother, was Crowned with Glory and Honor Above the Angels

[5] For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we
are speaking. [6] It has been testified somewhere, “What is man that thou art
mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him? [7] Thou didst make
him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and
honor, [8] putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting every-
thing in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not
yet see everything in subjection to him. [9] But we see Jesus, who for a little
while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because
of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for
every one.

[10] For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing
many sons to glory should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through
suffering. [11] For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one
origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, [12] saying. “I will
proclaim thy name to thy brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise
thee.”

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Commentary:

5-9. The saving dimension of the Incarnation is being explored here with the
help of quotations from Psalm 2 and other psalms. Christians should stay true
to Christ, because in addition to his being the cause and beginning of salvation
he has been made Lord of the universe; everything is subject to him. God the
Father, in other words, has established Christ—not the angels—as Lord of “the
world to come”.

God has put everything under Christ as man. The words of Psalm 8 are quoted
as applying to Christ as man, for he is the perfection of manhood, the perfect
man, and he merited being crowned with glory and honor because of his obe-
dience, humility, and passion and death (cf. Phil 2:6-11; 1 Pet 2:21-25); even
death itself has become subject to him (cf. 1 Cor 15:22-28). His enemies have
been made his footstool (cf. Ps 8:6; 110:1; Mt 22:44); he will channel every-
thing back to God, and God will be all in all.

5. “The world to come” was a term the Jews used to refer to the period immedia-
tely following the coming of the Messiah. The rabbis distinguished three periods
in the history of the world—the “present world”, the time when they were waiting
for the Messiah; the “day of the Messiah”, the point at which his kingdom would
be established; and the “world to come”, which would begin with the Resurrec-
tion of the dead and the judging of the nations. Many teachers of the Law tended
to confuse the “world to come” in some way with the “day of the Messiah”, which
was its initial stage.

The author of the epistle seems to be saying that the government of the present
world is entrusted by God to angels (cf. Deut 32:8; Dan 10: 13f), but that in the
world to come that is, in the definitive Kingdom—God the Creator’s original plan
will be implemented: Christ, true God and true man, with his glorified manhood,
will be the King of Creation and the holy angels and the blessed will reign with
him. The “world to come”, although it has begun with the Resurrection and glo-
rification of Jesus, will not reach its fullness until the second coming of Christ
and the resurrection of the dead. Until then, there exists a tension between “this
world” and the “world to come”: the former has received a mortal wound but it is
still alive; the latter has begun to exist but it has not yet attained its final full ex-
pression.

6. Psalm 8 is a hymn praising God for creating all things; particularly man,
whom he has made master of all creation. The words of the Psalm quoted here
are those which praise God’s caring love, as shown by his making man, despite
his limitations, lord of Creation.

However, the text of the epistle shows us that the words of the Psalm have a
deeper meaning: they refer to Jesus (cf. 1 Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22) and particularly
to his degradation. “Although these words can be applied to every man,” St John
Chrysostom comments “they do however most properly apply to Christ. For the
words ‘thou hast put everything in subjection under his feet’ (v. 8) are more suita-
ble to him than to us, for the Son of God visited us who were of no account and
having taken and loved our condition, he became higher than us all” (”Hom. on
Heb.”, 4).

The author of Hebrews uses Psalm 8 to demonstrate Christ’s superiority over
angels by giving it a deeply messianic interpretation. Thus, the man “crowned
with glory and honor” is the risen Christ, now seated at the right hand of the
Father; and the one to whom everything has been subjected is also the same
Christ (cf. 1:13), as St Paul proclaims in 1 Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22; Phil 3:21.

8. In keeping with its application to Christ of the words of Psalm 8: 4-6, the
epistle says that God the Father has subjected everything to him. This does not
mean that there is inequality or difference in power or nature between Father and
Son, as if the Son himself were subject to the Father, and the Father had given
him, as he would a subordinate, authority over the world. “Arius argued in this
way,” writes St Thomas: “the Father subjected everything to the Son; therefore,
the Son is less than the Father. I reply that it is true that the Father subjected
everything to the Son according to his human nature, in respect of which he is
less than the Father, as St John says, ‘the Father is greater than I’ (14:28). But
according to his divine nature, Christ himself subjected all things to himself”
(”Commentary on Heb.”, 2, 2).

Christ’s dominion over the universe is something which men cannot see and it
will not become manifest until his second coming as Lord and Judge of the living
and the dead. “Christ, true God and true man, lives and reigns. He is the Lord of
the universe. Everything that lives is kept in existence only through him. Why,
then, does he not appear to us in all his glory? Because his kingdom is ‘not of
this world’ (Jn 18:36), though it is in this world [...]. Those who expected the
Messiah to have visible temporal power were mistaken. [...] When Christ began
to preach on earth he did not put forward a political program. He said, ‘Repent,
for the kingdom of God is at hand’ (Mt 3:2; 4:17). He commissioned his disciples
to proclaim this good news (cf. Lk 10:9) and he taught them to pray for the co-
ming of the Kingdom (cf. Mt 6:10)” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 180).

9. The words “who for a little while was made lower than the angels” refer to
Jesus in the crisis of his Passion and Death, when he freely humbled himself
and lowered himself to suffer punishment and death — sufferings to which angels
are not subject.

“For a little while” is a translation of the Greek word which the New Vulgate ren-
ders as “paulo minus” (a little less than), and which also occurs in Hebrews 2:7
in the quotation from Psalm 8. The RSV translation in both instances is “for a
little while”.

Every human creature, including Christ as man, can be seen in some sense as
lower than the angels. This inferiority basically has to do with the fact that human
knowledge is inferior to that of angels because it is dependent on sense exper-
ience, and also because angels cannot experience suffering and death. “The an-
gels cannot suffer and are immortal by nature, so that when Christ deigned to
submit to his passion and death he made himself lower than them, not because
he lost his sublimity or in any way was diminished, but because he took on our
weakness. He made himself lower than the angels, not as far as his divinity or
his soul were concerned but only in respect of his body” (”Commentary on Heb.”,
2, 2).

Christ’s self-abasement is a permanent example to us to strive to respond to his
love. St John Chrysostom suggests that we draw from it this practical lesson: “If
he whom the angels worship consented, out of love for us, to become for a time
lower than them, you for your part should endure everything out of love for him”
(”Hom. on Heb.”, 4).

One of the results of Christ’s passion was his exaltation and glorification. Be-
cause Christ attained victory on the Cross, to the benefit of all mankind, the Cross
is the only route to heaven: “The holy cross is shining upon us”, the Church says.
“In the cross is victory, in the cross is power. By the cross every sin is overcome”
(”Liturgy of the Hours”, Exaltation of the Cross, Morning Prayer, Ant. 3). But virtue
of Christ’s passion, the Cross is no longer an ignominious scaffold; it is a glorious
throne. Tradition attributes to St Andrew the Apostle these words in praise of the
cross on which he was going to die: “O goodly Cross, glorified by the limbs of our
Lord, O Cross so long desired, so ardently loved, so tirelessly sought and now
offered to me: take me to my Master so that he who redeemed me through thee,
may welcome me through thee” (”Ex Passione S. Andreae”, Reading).

Through his death, Christ has been crowned with glory and honor; moreover he
has died on our behalf. His death and glorification are the cause and model of our
salvation and glorification. Sacrifice, atonement and merit are indissolubly linked
to the redemptive work of Christ and constitute a “grace of God”, that is, a gratui-
tous gift from God. St Thomas Aquinas explains that “the passion of Christ is
here alluded to in three ways. Firstly, its cause is referred to, for the text says
‘by the grace of God’; then, its usefulness, when it says ‘for every one’; thirdly, its
outcome, when it says ‘might taste”’ (”Commentary on Heb.”, 2, 3): Jesus did in-
deed, by the will of the Father, experience or “taste” death. His death is de-
scribed as being like a bitter drink which he chose to take in sips, as if savoring
it. The “cup” or chalice of the agony in the garden comes immediately to mind
(cf. Mt 26:39; Mk 14:26; Lk 22:42; In 18:11; cf. also Mt 20:22f and Mk 10:38f).

Christian tradition has seen these words about “tasting death” as underlining
that Christ underwent a most severe passion voluntarily, accepting it to atone for
all the sins of mankind. These words also show that he accepted death without
ceasing to be Lord of life: “This expression”, St John Chrysostom states, “is very
precise. It does not say ‘that by the grace of God he might die’, for the Lord once
he tasted death delayed there only for a moment and immediately rose [...]. All
men fear death; therefore, to enable us to take death in our stride, he tasted
death even though it was not necessary for him to do so” (”Hom. on Heb.”, 4).

10. After pointing to the results of Christ’s death, the text stresses how appro-
priate it was that he should be abased in this way: he had to make himself in
every way like his brethren in order to help them.

God the Father, who is the beginning and end of all things, desired to bring men
to glory by means of his Son. Christ was to be the author of their salvation and
therefore it was fitting that he should be made perfect through suffering. The Fa-
ther made his Son “perfect” in the sense that by becoming man and therefore
being able to suffer and die, he was fully equipped to be mankind’s representative.
“God has acted in a manner in keeping with his kindness towards us: he has
clothed his first-born in a glory greater than that of all mankind and made him
outstanding as a champion. Suffering is, therefore, a way to attain perfection and
a source of salvation” (”Hom. on Heb.”, 4). By perfectly obeying his Father, of-
fering his life and especially his passion and death, Christ offers a perfect and
superabundant sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind and makes full
atonement to the Father. As a reward for his obedience, Christ, as man, is made
Head of the Church and King of the universe. It is in that sense that he is made
“perfect” by the Father.

Ever since the Redemption, human suffering has become a way to perfection: it
acts as expiation for personal sins, it spurs man to assert his spiritual and trans-
cendental dimension, it makes for solidarity with others and links man to Christ’s
sacrifice. “Suffering must serve for conversion, that is, for the rebuilding of good-
ness in the subject, who can recognize the divine mercy in this call to repentance
[...] . But in order to perceive the true answer to the ‘why’ of suffering, we must
look to the revelation of divine love, the ultimate source of the meaning of every-
thing that exists [...]. Christ causes us to enter into the mystery and to discover
the ‘why’ of suffering, as far as we are capable of grasping the sublimity of divine
love” (John Paul II, “Salvifici Doloris”, 12-13).

11. To accomplish the salvation of men Christ needed to be one of them —to
share, with them, a human nature. This is why Christ is the only “true sanctifier”,
that is, the priest who performs rites and sacrifices, taking things stained by sin
and making them pure and pleasing to God, that is, holy. Our Lord said some-
thing similar in the Gospel: “For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also
may be consecrated in truth” (In 17:19).

“Have all one origin”. Various interpretations have been given to these words.
Most have to do with the parallelism between the first man and Christ (cf. Acts
17:26; Rom 5:15-19), seeing this “origin” as Adam—in which case the text would
mean that Christ and other men are children of Adam. A more usual interpreta-
tion sees the “one” origin as being God, thus stressing that Christ’s holy huma-
nity and the humanity of men both stem from the one Creator and derive from
the first man. In either case, Christ and the rest of men can rightly be called
“brethren”. “As to his divine generation he has no brethren or co-heirs, the only-
begotten Son of the Father, while we mortals are the work of his hands. But if
we consider his birth as man, he not only calls many by the name of brethren,
but treats them as such, since he admits them to share with him the glory of
his paternal inheritance” (”St Pius V Catechism”, I, 3, 10).

12. Psalm 22, which begins with the words, “My God, my God, why has thou
forsaken me?”, speaks of the sufferings and exaltation of the Messiah, as per-
fect Servant of Yahweh. Christ prayed this psalm on the Cross, applying it to
himself and thereby revealing it to be a prophecy of his passion (cf. Mt 27:35,
46; Mk 15:34). For this reason it is a psalm which is highly revered and much
used by Christian tradition. It had a special place in divine services in the syna-
gogue and is used by the Church in the liturgical ceremonies of Holy Thursday
and Good Friday.

The Servant of Yahweh, after being freed by God from the suffering and abuse
inflicted on him, expresses his gratitude to his liberator. That is why he wishes
to “proclaim”, that is, extol the name of Yahweh before the faithful who meet in
the congregation and whom he calls “brethren”. The evangelists see this psalm
as being fulfilled in our Lord’s passion (cf. Mt 27:35 and In 19:23-24 compared
with Ps 22:18).

But in Hebrews 2:12 other words of the same Psalm (Ps 22:23) are applied not
so much to our Lord’s passion as to Christ’s revelation of the Father: he proc-
laims the name of the true God, that is, his inner life, his mercy and power. This
passage of Hebrews echoes the words of Jesus in John 17:6, 26: “I have mani-
fested thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world; thine they
are, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word [...]. I have made
known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou
hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus in the Synagogue of Capernaum

[21] And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath He entered
the synagogue and taught. [22] And they were astonished at His teaching, for He
taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. [23] And immedia-
tely there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; [24] and he cried
out, “What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to des-
troy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God.” [25] But Jesus rebuked him
saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” [26] And the unclean spirit, convulsing
him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. [27] And they were all
amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A
new teaching! With authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they
obey Him.” [28] And at once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the sur-
rounding region of Galilee.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

21. “Synagogue” means meeting, assembly, community. It was — and is — used
by the Jews to describe the place where they met to hear the Scriptures read,
and to pray. Synagogues seem to have originated in the social gatherings of the
Jews during their exile in Babylon, but this phenomenon did not spread until much
later. In our Lord’s time there were synagogues, in Palestine, in every city and
town of any importance; and, outside Palestine, wherever the Jewish community
was large enough. The synagogue consisted mainly of a rectangular room built in
such a way that those attending were facing Jerusalem when seated. There was
a rostrum or pulpit from which Sacred Scripture was read and explained.

22. Here we can see how Jesus showed His authority to teach. Even when He
took Scripture as His basis—as in the Sermon on the Mount—He was different
from other teachers, for He spoke in His own name: “But I say to you” (Matthew
7:28-29). Our Lord speaks about the mysteries of God, and about human rela-
tionships; He teaches in a simple and authoritative way because He speaks of
what He knows and testifies to what He has seen (John 3:11). The scribes also
taught the people, St. Bede comments, about what is written in Moses and the
prophets; but Jesus preached to them as God and Lord of Moses himself (St.
Bede, “In Marci Evangelium Expositio”). Moreover, first He does and then He
preaches (Acts 1:1)—not like the scribes who teach and do not do (Matthew 23:
1-5).

23-26. The Gospels give us many accounts of miraculous cures, among the most
outstanding of which are those of people possessed by the devil. Victory over the
unclean spirit, as the devil is usually described, is a clear sign that God’s salva-
tion has come: by overcoming the Evil One, Jesus shows that He is the Messiah,
the Savior, more powerful than the demons: “Now is the judgment of this world,
now shall the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). Throughout the Gospel
we see many accounts of this continuous and successful struggle of our Lord
against the devil.

As time goes on the devil’s opposition to Jesus becomes ever clearer; in the
wilderness it is hidden and subtle; it is noticeable and violent in the case of pos-
sessed people; and radical and total during the Passion, the devil’s “hour and the
power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). And Jesus’ victory also becomes ever clearer,
until He triumphs completely by rising from the dead.

The devil is called unclean, St. John Chrysostom says, because of his impiety
and withdrawal from God. In some ways he does recognize Christ’s holiness, but
this knowledge is not accompanied by charity. In addition to the historical fact of
this cure, we can also see, in this possessed man, those sinners who must be
converted to God and freed from the slavery to sin and the devil. They may have

to struggle for a long time but victory will come: the Evil One is powerless against
Christ (cf. note on Matthew 12:22-24).

27. The same authority that Jesus showed in His teaching (1:22) is now to be
seen in His actions. His will is His command: He has no need of long prayers or
incantations. Jesus’ words and actions already have a divine power which pro-
vokes wonder and fear in those who hear and see Him.

Jesus continues to impress people in this way (Mark 2:12; 5:20-42; 7:37; 15:39;
Luke 19:48; John 7:46). Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited Savior. He knows
this Himself and He lets it be known by His actions and by His words; according
to the gospel accounts (Mark 1:38-39; 2:10-11; 4:39) there is complete continui-
ty and consistency between what He says and He does. As Vatican II teaches
(”Dei Verbum”, 2) Revelation is realized by deeds and words intimately connec-
ted with each other: the words proclaim the deeds and clarify the mystery con-
tained in them; the deeds confirm the teaching. In this way Jesus progressively
reveals the mystery of His Person: first the people sense His exceptional autho-
rity; later on, the Apostles, enlightened by God’s grace, recognize the deepest
source of this authority: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew
16:16).

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading
Hebrews 2:5-12 ©
The one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified are of the same stock
God did not appoint angels to be rulers of the world to come, and that world is what we are talking about. Somewhere there is a passage that shows us this. It runs: What is man that you should spare a thought for him, the son of man that you should care for him? For a short while you made him lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and splendour. You have put him in command of everything. Well then, if he has put him in command of everything, he has left nothing which is not under his command. At present, it is true, we are not able to see that everything has been put under his command, but we do see in Jesus one who was for a short while made lower than the angels and is now crowned with glory and splendour because he submitted to death; by God’s grace he had to experience death for all mankind.
As it was his purpose to bring a great many of his sons into glory, it was appropriate that God, for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists, should make perfect, through suffering, the leader who would take them to their salvation. For the one who sanctifies, and the ones who are sanctified, are of the same stock; that is why he openly calls them brothers in the text: I shall announce your name to my brothers, praise you in full assembly.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 8:2,5-9 ©
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
What is man that you should keep him in mind,
mortal man that you care for him?
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
Yet you have made him little less than a god;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hand,
put all things under his feet.
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
All of them, sheep and cattle,
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish
that make their way through the waters.
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

Gospel Acclamation
Jm1:21
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word
which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
Or:
cf.1Th2:13
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept God’s message for what it really is:
God’s message, and not some human thinking.
Alleluia!

Gospel
Mark 1:21-28 ©
Unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority
Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

21. And they went into Capernaum; and straight-way on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
22. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Mark, arranging the sayings of the Gospel as they were in his own mind, not in themselves, quits the order of the history, and follows the order of the mysteries. Wherefore he relates the first miracle on the sabbath day, saying, And they go in to Capernaum.

THEOPHYL. Quitting Nazareth. Now on the sabbath day, when the Scribes were gathered together, be entered into a synagogue, and taught. Wherefore there follows, And straightway on the sabbath day, having entered into the synagogue, he taught them. For this end the Law commanded them to give themselves up to rest on the sabbath day, that they might meet together to attend to sacred reading.

Again, Christ taught them by rebuke, not by flattery as did the Pharisees; wherefore it says, And they were astonished at his doctrine; for he taught them as one having power, and not as the Scribes. He taught them also in power, transforming men to good, and he threatened punishment to those who did not believe on Him.

BEDE; The Scribes themselves taught the people what was written in Moses and the Prophets: but Jesus as the God and Lord of Moses himself, by the freedom of His own will, either added those things which appeared wanting in the Law, or altered things as He preached to the people; as we read in Matthew, It was said to them of old time, but I say to you.

23. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.
25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold your peace, and come out of him.
26. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27. And they were all amazed, inasmuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commands he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
28. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

BEDE; Since by the envy of the devil death first entered into the world, it was right that the medicine of healing should first work against the author of death; and therefore it is said, And there was in their synagogue a man, &c.

PSEUD-CHRYS. The word Spirit is applied to an Angel, the air, the soul, and even the Holy Ghost. Lest therefore by the sameness of the name we should fall into error, he adds, unclean. And he is called unclean on account of his impiousness and far removal from God, and because he employs himself in all unclean and wicked works.

AUG. Moreover, how great is the power which the lowliness of God, appearing in the form of a servant, has over the pride of devils, the devils themselves know so well, that they express it to the same Lord clothed in the weakness of flesh. For there follows, And he cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth, &c. For it is evident in these words that there was in them knowledge, but there was not charity; and the reason was, that they fear their punishment from Him, and loved not the righteousness in Him.

BEDE; For the devils, seeing the Lord on the earth, thought that they were immediately to be judged.

PSEUD-CHRYS. Or else the devil so speaks, as if he said, 'by taking away uncleanness, and giving to the souls of men divine knowledge, You allow us no place in men.'

THEOPHYL; For to come out of man the devil considers as his own perdition; for devils are ruthless, thinking that they suffer some evil, so long as they are not troubling men. There follows, I know that you are the Holy One of God.

PSEUD-CHRYS. As if he said, Methinks that You are come; for he had not a firm and certain knowledge of the coming of God. But he calls Him holy not as one of many, for every prophet was also holy, but he proclaims that He was the One holy; by time article in Greek he shows Him to be the One, but by his fear he shows Him to he Lord of all.

AUG. For He was known to them in that degree in which He wished to be known; and He wished as much as was fitting. He was not known to them as to the Holy Angels, who enjoy Him by partaking of His eternity according as He is the Word of God; but as he was to be made known in terror, to those beings from whose tyrannical power He was about to free the predestinate. He was known therefore to the devils, not in that He is eternal Life, but by some temporal effects of His Power, which might be more clear to the angelic senses of even bad spirits than to the weakness of men.

PSEUD-CHRYS. Further, the Truth did not wish to have the witness of unclean spirits; wherefore there follows, And Jesus threatened him, saying, &c. Whence a healthful precept is given to us; let us not believe devils, however they may proclaim the truth. It goes on, And the unclean spirit tearing him, &c. For, because the man spoke as one in his senses and uttered his words with discretion, lest it should be thought that he put together his words not from the devil but out of his own heart, He permitted the man to be torn by the devil, that He might show that it was the devil who spoke.

THEOPHYL. That they might know, when they saw it, from how great an evil the man was freed, and on account of the miracle might believe.

BEDE; But it may appear to be a discrepancy, that he should have gone out of him, tearing him, or, as some copies have it, vexing him, when, according to Luke, he did not hurt him. But Luke himself says, When he had cast him in to the midst, he came out from him, without hurting him. Wherefore it is inferred that Mark meant by vexing or tearing him, what Luke expresses, in the words, When he had cast him into the midst; so that what he goes on to say, And did not hurl him, may be understood to mean, that the tossing of his limbs and vexing, did not weakening him, as devils are wont to come out even with the cutting off and tearing away of limbs.

But seeing the power of the miracle, they wonder at the newness of our Lord's doctrine, and are roused to search into what they had heard by what they had seen. Wherefore there follows, And they all wondered &c. For miracles were done that they might more firmly believe the Gospel of the kingdom of God, which was being preached, since those who were promising heavenly joys to men on earth, were showing forth heavenly things and divine works even on earth. For before (as the Evangelist says) He was teaching them as one who had power, and now, as the crowd witnesses, with power He commands the evil spirits, and they obey Him.

It goes on, And immediately His fame spread abroad, &c.

GLOSS. For those things which men wonder at they soon divulge, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks .

PSEUDO-JEROME; Moreover, Capernaum is mystically interpreted the town of consolation, and the sabbath as rest. The man with an evil spirit is healed by rest and consolation, that the place and time may agree with his healing. This maim with an unclean spirit is the human race, in which uncleanness reigned from Adam to Moses; for they sinned without law, and perished without law. And he, knowing the Holy One of God, is ordered to hold his peace, for they knowing God did not glorify him as God, but rather served the creature than the Creator. The spirit tearing the man came out of him. When salvation is near, temptation is at hand also. Pharaoh, when about to let Israel go, pursues Israel; the devil, when despised, rises up to create scandals.

Catena Aurea Mark 1

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

6. Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary. The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

(Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]

Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")

Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."

Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."

Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."

Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."

Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!

January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Phil:2:10-11

The Most Holy Name
The Power of Jesus’ Name
What does IHS stand for? The meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus [Catholic Caucus]
Litany Of The Holy Name of Jesus
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Jesus, The Name above all Names
Devotion to the Holy Name (of Jesus) [Catholic Caucus]
Lessons In Iconography : The Chi Rho - Christ
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Excerpt from a Sermon) (Catholic Caucus)
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

St. Bernard on the Most Holy Name of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Saving the day in His Holy Name: St. Genevieve gets a reprieve [Catholic Caucus]
The Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
The Holy Name of Jesus

Philippians 2
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 1
21.	And they entered into Capharnaum, and forthwith upon the sabbath days going into the synagogue, he taught them.	Et ingrediuntur Capharnaum : et statim sabbatis ingressus in synagogam, docebat eos.	και εισπορευονται εις καπερναουμ και ευθεως τοις σαββασιν εισελθων εις την συναγωγην εδιδασκεν
22.	And they were astonished at his doctrine. For he was teaching them as one having power, and not as the scribes.	Et stupebant super doctrina ejus : erat enim docens eos quasi potestatem habens, et non sicut scribæ.	και εξεπλησσοντο επι τη διδαχη αυτου ην γαρ διδασκων αυτους ως εξουσιαν εχων και ουχ ως οι γραμματεις
23.	And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,	Et erat in synagoga eorum homo in spiritu immundo : et exclamavit,	και ην εν τη συναγωγη αυτων ανθρωπος εν πνευματι ακαθαρτω και ανεκραξεν
24.	Saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy One of God.	dicens : Quid nobis et tibi, Jesu Nazarene ? venisti perdere nos ? scio qui sis, Sanctus Dei.	λεγων εα τι ημιν και σοι ιησου ναζαρηνε ηλθες απολεσαι ημας οιδα σε τις ει ο αγιος του θεου
25.	And Jesus threatened him, saying: Speak no more, and go out of the man.	Et comminatus est ei Jesus, dicens : Obmutesce, et exi de homine.	και επετιμησεν αυτω ο ιησους λεγων φιμωθητι και εξελθε εξ αυτου
26.	And the unclean spirit tearing him, and crying out with a loud voice, went out of him.	Et discerpens eum spiritus immundus, et exclamans voce magna, exiit ab eo.	και σπαραξαν αυτον το πνευμα το ακαθαρτον και κραξαν φωνη μεγαλη εξηλθεν εξ αυτου
27.	And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying: What thing is this? what is this new doctrine? for with power he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.	Et mirati sunt omnes, ita ut conquirerent inter se dicentes : Quidnam est hoc ? quænam doctrina hæc nova ? quia in potestate etiam spiritibus immundis imperat, et obediunt ei.	και εθαμβηθησαν παντες ωστε συζητειν προς εαυτους λεγοντας τι εστιν τουτο τις η διδαχη η καινη αυτη οτι κατ εξουσιαν και τοις πνευμασιν τοις ακαθαρτοις επιτασσει και υπακουουσιν αυτω
28.	And the fame of him was spread forthwith into all the country of Galilee.	Et processit rumor ejus statim in omnem regionem Galilææ.	εξηλθεν δε η ακοη αυτου ευθυς εις ολην την περιχωρον της γαλιλαιας