AUTHORITATIVE CHRISTIANS

First Reading: Deut 18:15-20
Second Reading: 1 Cor 7:32-35
Gospel: Mk 1:21-28

We are in the fourth Sunday of ordinary Time. The first mission of Jesus was the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Last Sunday we read the passage about the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee (Mk 1:14-20). Today’s gospel is the continuation of that reading. Jesus continues His mission of preaching in the local synagogue at Capernaum. His preaching distinctively stands out from the teachings of his contemporary scribes and rabbis. People recognize authoritative tone in His preaching. In the first reading we hear from Moses that God would raise a prophet like him in the future, whom the Israelites should listen to (Deut 18:15). Moses was the mouth piece of God. He communicated to people exactly what he had heard from God. He provided spoken and written form to God’s word. Thus, to look for a prophet like him in the future means to look for the one who would speak directly the Word of God. Scribes and rabbis are interpreters of God’s word. They give clarity and understanding to God’s word. Moses’ job was completely different from that of scribes and theologians. Moses heard and delivered the message. Jesus too affirmed that His words are not His own but of His Father. He said that, He communicates exactly what He has heard from His Father (Jn 8:38; 12:49). He speaks from what he has heard. His existence is the exposition of God to humanity. He is the extension of heaven on earth. The authority of Moses and Jesus directly come from heavenly Father as they act as mediators – Moses for Israelites and Jesus for whole humanity. The audience at Capernaum synagogue recognize the teaching authority of Jesus. They see something new in His teaching. That newness is the authority. Jesus is not interpreting God, nor giving some moral lessons. He is an authoritative person whose words are definite and eternal in nature.  

Today we too preach about Jesus and Gospel values. The mushrooming of preachers today at every corner of our country is alarming. How many of them do really have authority to break God’s word? In the Catholic Church the anointed minsters and scholars are given authority to break the Word of God to the people. Externally, their authority to teach comes from the fulfilment of ecclesiastical studies. But that itself is not sufficient to be authoritative in preaching and teaching. The boring and lifeless preaching are the sign that their words do not proceed from one’s heart and conviction. Of course some due to ailments and old age struggle to preach, they are not to be considered as lifeless preachers. I am referring to pastors and teachers who break the Word of God without any zeal. St. Catherine of Siena says, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” If God has called people to be pastors and teachers, when they sign themselves totally to the will of God surely, there will be fire in their preaching. The coldness and rejection to embrace the mystery as it unfolds in one’s vocation is the fundamental problem for becoming mere speakers than preachers. We need preachers with tongues of the Holy Spirit, not speakers with eloquence and elite words. In the synagogue Jesus sees the possessed person. No wonder how the evil one is present in the house of prayer – the holy place. When there is no holiness and place for Word of God there is a dwelling for the evil one. The presence of the Word made flesh renews the holiness of the synagogue. The holiness of Jesus terrifies the demon. The demon shouts about Jesus as the Holy One of God (Mk 1:24). Demon has knowledge about Jesus but not convinced that He is his master. The rejection of God as source of all that exists leads to chaos and disorder. The problem with the devil is that He knows who God is, but fails to acknowledge it. Therefore, to have knowledge about Jesus alone is not sufficient to be Christians. We need to affirm that knowledge in one’s action. Our holiness is the manifestation, rather the actualization of Jesus’ teaching. Our authority as heirs of God consists in being holy. The evil spirits and the wicked ones will tremble in front of us seeing as holy. May we become authoritative Christians who practice what we preach. Let the world be set on fire with our integral existential preaching.

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