The manifestation of the reign of God is the expression of wholeness/wellness for humanity: I have come that you may have life and that to the full. (Jn 10:10) The people of God will begin to realise their original dignity as God's children. God's care and concern over us becomes our belief as expressed in the first reading and in psalm 8.

Wherever Jesus goes he leaves in everyone an impression of strength and confidence. It is significant that the first miracle of Jesus that Mark reports is exorcism...restoring a possessed man to wholeness. By casting out the evil spirit Jesus destroys the power of satan over people. The astonishment of the people who were there prompts them to question among themselves what they have seen and heard. They acclaim the exorcism itself as a new teaching. We do not know what Jesus taught but his teaching made an absolute claim on the lives of his audience. God has really visited his people, so that through his son, who became like us in everything but sin, through his suffering, death and resurrection, sanctified us to become like him in glory. Our destiny is already certain if we accept and submit to the word of God planted in us.