Dt 18: 15-20
1 Cor 7: 32-35
Mk 1: 21 - 28
The Word for Sunday: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020115.cfm
When
someone claims to have a certain position of authority we naturally want to
know, who gave them this power? What training have they had, what school did
they attend, what other positions have they held that led them to this new role
of responsibility? We see a diploma hung on a wall or hear of awards bestowed and
lucrative offers from companies that advance people to various higher positions
which provide a certain authority upon them.
Our
Gospel this Sunday speaks of two things: authority and power. According to the Gospel of Mark which we hear
from this year, Jesus begins his public ministry after calling his first disciples
as we heard last week from fishermen to fish for people.
He begins to teach to those assembled for worship on
the Sabbath day in the synagogue in Capernaum by the Sea
of Galilee. Right off, we sense that his teaching is somehow different from
what the crowd is accustomed to hear from other rabbis, who could only claim
the authority of those they read: “As the prophet Isaiah states . . .”
Those who hear Jesus are stunned and puzzled by his words
and most likely his tone of voice. Mark tells us “the people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one
having authority and not as the scribes.” He read the scriptures and
explained them in a way that made them apply to himself (Lk 4: 20-24).
The
amazement of the crowd, then, seems based on not only a certain confidence in
Jesus’ voice and certain claims he made but they were also aware of his
background. They knew where he came from
– an obscure tiny village that many assumed would never produce a citizen of
great learning or significance. They
knew that his social status was that of a common tradesman, as that of his
presumed father, Joseph. All that considered, who does he think he is and from
where does he claim this sudden position of power? How can he make the claims
he does?
In
the midst of what must have been a lively discussion of Jesus’ imposing claims,
suddenly a man shrieks out: “What have
you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth?”
Now
apparently such incidences were not all that unusual in Jesus’ time. There were likely a number of folks, mentally
disturbed, who would yell many things out loud in public places for no apparent
reason. Our knowledge of mental illness
today in its variety of forms was unheard of in ancient times so such folks
were sadly assumed to be possessed by evil demons. The existence of both good and evil spirits
was very common in ancient times and certainly something we need to revisit in
our own. Angels and demons are very active in our own day and age.
Yet,
there was something unique about this man’s disturbance. His shout was not just
spoken haphazardly; it was directly aimed at Jesus himself. It seemed directed
at Jesus for a purpose and Our Lord responds with an even greater authority
which seems to support the origin of the authority the crowd noticed he taught
with.
Without fear or cowardice
Jesus directly commands the spirit in the disturbed man: “Quiet! Come out of him!” His voice must have been strong, direct,
and firm. And so the unclean spirit, who identified the truth of Jesus
authority that the crowd was about to experience, comes out of the man.
If
the crowd was not astonished before this moment they certainly are now: “What is this? A new teaching with authority.
He commands . . . they obey him.”
It
is interesting to hear it was the demon in the man who revealed Jesus’
identity: “I know who you are - the Holy
One of God.” Jesus claim for his authoritative teaching and its exercise in
the miracle events is of divine origin.
He has a power greater than ordinary human beings and certainly greater
than any of their familiar rabbis. The
most authority those more common teachers could claim was to quote the
authority of the prophets themselves, from whom they read. But Jesus claim is
of his own power and position as God.
We
may stop there. We may feel this
authority of Jesus was essential to establish within his own time and
place. He needed to do so in order to
carry out his mission and its purpose for our eternal salvation. Yet, unlike many appointed or elected leaders
who are in power one day and out the next, Jesus’ authority has been passed on
– to his Church and to us.
There
is no doubt this experience in the synagogue at Capernaum along the Sea
opened the door to many who would discover and benefit from Jesus presence in
their midst. After all, Mark ends his
passage with the words: “His fame spread
everywhere . . .”
Yet,
as the first reading from the ancient book of Deuteronomy tell us God had
intended to send a prophet like Moses, only greater, among his people and “you shall listen to him and . .. I will put
my words in his mouth.” This prophet we see in Jesus who in the line of
prophets became the very voice of God himself rather than speak only on behalf
of God.
Where
that leaves us is to know that Jesus’ authority moved forward from his time to
ours. That all connected with the spread
of the Gospel, and who kept its message authentic, can be heard with
confidence. In the Church we hear that
voice. Not because it is led by fallible
human beings in need of our own personal conversion but because that Gospel
message of Christ continues and we can follow with confidence because it is
from Jesus own authoritative voice.
So
God’s Word can be followed. His
sacraments can be received in the confidence of knowing that they are born of
his authority where he washes us clean of sin, forgives and reconciles us to
God, feeds us with his own body and blood, unites us in marriage and calls us
to ordained service and anoints us with healing in sickness.
The
power of the Church should be no more or no less than the power and authority
that Christ has entrusted to his Body, the Church. To reach out with compassion and mercy, to
include rather than exclude, to challenge and teach the truth is both done with
the authority of Christ and it extends to his Church which is his Body and face
in the world.
Of
this we can be sure and confidently follow the Way he has shown us.
You gave us the same Word made flesh as Mediator,
and he has spoken your words to us
and called us to follow him.
He is the way that leads us to you,
the truth that sets us free,
the life that fills us with gladness.
(From the Preface of Eucharistic Prayer III in Masses
for Various Needs)
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