Mk. 1:25. Jesus rebuked him, saying: Be silent and come out of him.
Mk. 1:26. And the unclean spirit, having convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, came out of him.
Mk. 1:27. And all were amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying: What is this? What new teaching is this, that He commands even the unclean spirits with authority, and they obey Him?
Mk. 1:28. And immediately His fame spread throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. Evil spirits are called "unclean" because they love all manner of unclean deeds. To come out of a man the demon considers "destruction" for itself. Malicious demons in general count it as suffering for themselves when they are not permitted to do evil to people. Moreover, being lovers of the flesh and accustomed to taking pleasure in matter, they endure as it were a great hunger when they do not dwell in bodies. Therefore the Lord also says that the demonic race is cast out by fasting. The unclean spirit did not say to Christ: You are holy, since many of the prophets too were holy, but said "the Holy One," that is, the Only One, Holy in His very essence. But Christ silences him, so that we may know that demons must be stopped from speaking, even if they speak the truth. The demon throws and violently shakes the one it possesses, so that the onlookers, seeing from what a calamity the man is delivered, might believe on account of the miracle.
Mk. 1:29. And forthwith, when they had come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
Mk. 1:30. The mother-in-law of Simon lay sick with a fever; and at once they told Him about her.
Mk. 1:31. Coming to her, He raised her up, taking her by the hand; and the fever immediately left her, and she began to serve them. Toward evening on the Sabbath, as was customary, the Lord went to the house of the disciples to take a meal. Meanwhile, she who was supposed to serve on this occasion was seized with a fever. But the Lord heals her, and she begins to serve them. These words let you know that you too, when God heals you from illness, should use your health for serving the saints and for pleasing God[...].
Mk. 1:32. When evening came, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all the sick and demon-possessed.
Mk. 1:33. The entire city gathered at the doors.
Mk. 1:34. He healed many who were suffering from various diseases; cast out many demons, and did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ. Not without reason was it added: "when the sun was setting." Since they thought it was unlawful to heal on the Sabbath day, they waited for the setting of the sun and only then began bringing the sick for healing. He healed "many," it says instead of "all," because all constitute many; or: He did not heal all because some proved to be unbelievers who were not healed on account of their unbelief, but He healed "many" of those brought, that is, those who had faith. He did not allow the demons to speak so that, as I said, He might teach us not to believe them, even if they speak the truth. Otherwise, if they find someone fully trusting them, what will they not do, the accursed ones, mixing falsehood with truth! So also Paul forbade the divining spirit from saying: "These men are servants of the Most High God"; the Holy Man did not wish to hear testimony and witness from unclean lips.
Mk. 1:35. And in the morning, having risen very early, He went out and withdrew to a deserted place, and there He prayed.
Mk. 1:36. Simon and those who were with him followed after Him.
Mk. 1:37. And when they found Him, they say to Him: everyone is seeking You.
Mk. 1:38. He says to them: Let us go into the nearby villages and cities, so that I may preach there also, for I came for this purpose.
Mk. 1:39. And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons. After healing the sick, the Lord withdraws to a solitary place, teaching us by this not to do anything for show, but if we do some good deed, to hasten to conceal it. And He also prays in order to show us that everything good we do must be ascribed to God and we should say to Him: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). Christ Himself had no need of prayer in and of Himself. Furthermore, when the crowd sought Him and greatly desired Him, He does not give Himself over to them, although He receives this with goodwill, but goes also to others who were in need of healing and instruction. For one must not confine the work of teaching to a single place, but must scatter the rays of the word everywhere. But see how He joins action to teaching: He preaches, and then also casts out demons. So you too must teach and at the same time do works, so that your word may not be in vain. Otherwise, if Christ had not also shown miracles, His word would not have been believed.
Mk. 1:40. A leper comes to Him and, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, says to Him: if You will, You can make me clean.
Mk. 1:41. Jesus, moved with compassion toward him, stretched out His hand, touched him, and said to him: I will; be cleansed.
Mk. 1:42. After this word the leprosy immediately left him, and he became clean. The leper was prudent and believed; therefore he did not say: if You ask God; but believing in Him as God, he said: "if You will." Christ touches him as a sign that nothing is unclean. The Law forbade touching a leper as unclean; but the Savior, wishing to show that nothing is unclean by nature, that the requirements of the Law must be abolished, and that they have power only over men, touches the leper — whereas even Elisha so feared the Law that he did not even wish to see Naaman, who was leprous and asking for healing.
Mk. 1:43. And having sternly warned him, immediately sent him away
Mk. 1:44. And He said to him: See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.
Mk. 1:45. But he, going out, began to proclaim and spread the story of what had happened, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places. And they came to Him from every direction. And from this we are also taught not to make a show of ourselves when we do good to someone, for behold, Jesus Himself commands the one who was cleansed not to spread word about Him. Although He knew that the man would not listen and would spread the word, nevertheless, as I said, teaching us not to love vainglory, He commands him to tell no one. But on the other hand, everyone who has received a kindness ought to be grateful and thankful, even if his benefactor has no need of it. So too the leper proclaims the kindness he received, even though the Lord did not command him to do so. Christ sends him to the priest because, by the commandment of the Law, a leper could not enter the city unless the priest declared him cleansed of his leprosy; otherwise he had to be expelled from the city. At the same time, the Lord commands him also to bring a gift, as those who were cleansed customarily offered: this as a testimony that He is not an opponent of the Law but, on the contrary, values it so highly that what the Law commands, He too orders to be fulfilled.