IV Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – January 31, 2021 The Authority of Jesus: The Fruit of the Power of His Mercy Deuteronomy 18: 15-20/ Psalm 95 / 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35 / Mark 1: 21-28
While teaching homiletics (preaching) to seminarians at the major seminary in the Archdiocese of Guayaquil in Ecuador, I explained to them the fundamentals of good communication: the medium and the message. How we communicate something is important and can make or break the message we seek to impart. I stressed to them that their homilies must be the fruit of study and prayer with concern for the people. However, there is an important role for the medium, the messenger. Preachers are messengers and must manifest Christ by their words and good example. Such a witness is what brings authority to speech. In the exchanges that occur in today’s Gospel reading from St. Mark, one can discern much interplay between the messenger and the message. The people are attracted by what Jesus says and does. However, more was at stake. "The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes" (Mark 1: 22) ……“What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.” (Mark 1: 27b-28). To the crowd, Jesus was an intriguing figure who performed amazing deeds and preached a meaningful and attractive message. Those present are impressed by how he taught with authority, but do not seem to make a commitment to him. Even worse, they do not appear to recognize his true identity. Strikingly, it is the unclean spirit that recognizes Jesus and identifies him as the "Holy One of God." That might come as a surprise, but should it? The unclean spirit was opposed to Jesus, but recognized him and was terrified by his authority. The demons knew who Jesus was and what he could and would do. The people who Jesus came to serve and save were impressed by the authority of his teaching, but they did not truly know him nor appreciate his purpose. The teaching of Jesus did not seem to take root in the hearers. They recognized his authority, but were not willing to follow him. The result, sadly, was fame, not commitment, not conversion. The focus must not only be on his words and astonishing deeds, but on Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. In order for the teaching of Jesus to have true authority in our lives, we must recognize and believe in him as he is: the One who not only is capable of redeeming us, but who does so out of love and without reservation. We, unlike the crowd, must recognize our need for the authority of his mercy. Jesus challenges us to focus ourselves first on him before thinking about the message. He does not say, "I speak about the resurrection," but, "I am the resurrection and the life..." (John 11: 25a). He does not say, “I will show you the way…,” but “I am the Way….” (John 14: 6a). Knowing Christ is the first step; believing in what he says and does must flow out of that first knowledge, out of a relationship with him. In other words, let us recognize his mercy and forgiveness as an authoritative teaching, but even more as his grace at work in our lives and in the people around us. If we know Christ and are in relationship with him, then our words about him will express the knowledge that flows from our hearts as well as our minds. If we cherish our relationship with him, then we will be more than impressed by his authority, we will be grateful for how he leads us by the real-life example of his mercy. God alone has the power to forgive us from the debt of our sins, but by his authority we are able to forgive and by his tender mercy, we are able to be forgiven.