In today's Gospel reading, we are told of Jesus' first public teaching. We're not really told what Jesus said.

We are, however, told that people are astonished by Jesus' teaching because he teaches with "authority and not as the scribes." Later, the onlookers are shocked again when "He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."

Mark's Gospel makes it very clear that Jesus is in command of his life and ministry. He does not defer to others, but speaks his mind and expects it to be treated like, well, the Gospel. He encounters an unclean spirit and he tells it to go away. He orders the spirits around like he owns them. This is someone, we are perhaps meant to learn, that we can trust.

This is good news for those of us often feel that we are at the mercy of powers greater than ourselves. If you're like me, you spend a lot of time worrying about forces as mundane as the economy, your employer, the opinions of friends and family and, of course, the future. These forces don't carry the drama of an "unclean spirit" but they can control us nonetheless, pushing us to trust in their power more than we trust the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Mark's Gospel suggests that Jesus is control over all these things. He has authority over this world and the spirit world.

We are challenged by today's Gospel, as usual, to align our lives with Jesus and his teachings rather than with the powers in this world. These powers seem strong indeed, strong enough to control us or even destroy. Jesus tells us that these powers, in the end, answer to him.

We need to trust God more than we trust money, power, appearance and status. This is not easy --- at least it is not easy for me. I want financial security. I want to be liked and respected. I want to be successful as an employee, parent, child and friend. Jesus promises us none of these things.

But he does promise spiritual security if we place our lives in his hands. He has authority over all things. He has authority over Wall Street, Main Street and the other forces whose goodness and approval we tend to cherish.

It seems likely that we will only experience the reality of this authority if we try it --- if we attempt to live by Jesus' words. Then we will find out that he is a more reliable source of security than the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

It is not easy. Fortunately, we have the church and its rich history of examples of this kind of faith --- from the apostles to faithful popes, bishops, priests and laypeople, people who have put their lives in God's hands and found it the safest place in the world. They have found that when Jesus speaks, the spirits obey him.

We are called and challenged to do the same, and we are invited to have that same experience of God's power, authority and love.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.