" He taught them as one with authority, and not as the scribes"

" He taught them as one with authority, and not as the scribes"

By REV. FR. ANTHONY IGBEKELE

Scripture 

1st Reading: Heb2:5-12
Resp. Psalm: Ps8:2,5-9
Gosp. Accl.: 1Thess2:13
Gospel: Mk1:21-28

"They were astonished at his teaching"

The "drama" at Capernaum today was well understood. The Lord, who had never been known as a rabbi, entered the synagogue on the sabbath and taught. The people in the synagogue that day and all those who had known Him up till that time had always known Him in the flesh. They thought He was merely a man. They did not see Him as a student or disciple of any rabbi, which would have given them the opportunity to know where His teaching came from. His teaching was different: profound, penetrating, unforgettable, one that cuts deep into the marrow. It was not an earthly teaching. It was divine teaching. They could not understand how one they had taken to be a mere man could have such otherworldly wisdom. So, they were justifiably aatonished. He taught them with a teaching authority that they had never known before. Are we open to new things, new ideas that can benefit our lives? Are we closed up in our own cocoon? Do we leave ourselves open to be surprised by God?

He did not only teach; He healed

In the Synagogue today, the people were treated by our Lord to a little demonstration of His divinity as God. While they had not fully digested their astonishment at His teaching, He demonstrated another sign of His awesome divine power: He exorcized a man with unclean spirits. The unclean spirits recognized His presence. They knew His name. They had the audacity to ask Him what He had to do with them and whether He had come to destroy them. They called Him the Holy One of God. Is it not strange that while human beings were wondering and astonished at his teaching and healing, unclean spirits were already acknowledging His divinity? But our Lord did not want that type of false acknowledgement. He also knew the sufferings the man with unclean spirit had gone through. With a word of authority, He silenced the unclean spirits and sent them out of the man. Do we feel the awesome power of our healing and liberating Lord? Have we ever tapped into those powers in moments of great need? Were we grateful after receiving our answers in ways beyond our imaginations?

A greater sense of astonishment and wonder 

The healing of the demoniac was not carried out in the name of any authority. The Lord did it by His own authority. The people knew that unclean spirits were opponents of God in the lives of human beings and that they competed for the space God should naturally occupy. To send them out of any space they occupied was a demonstration of great power over them. Only God or one directly tapping into God's awesome powers could do this. No wonder then the people were all amazed and questioned among themselves about His new teaching that was backed up by authority and power over unclean spirits. Justifiably, His fame spread everywhere throughout Galilee. Do we realize that the Lord exercises that power even today? Do we know that every validly baptized person can tap into those powers?

God did not subject the world to come to angels

God is not selfish. God shares His power with us. The word of God in our first reading today teaches us that even the world to come has been subjected to us and that God left nothing outside our control. God put everything in subjection to us. God achieved this in a preeminent way through His divine Son, "who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one." God the Father made the pioneer of our salvation perfect through suffering. Do we realize the incredible privilege we have? Do we understand the dignity that has been bestowed upon us?

Let us pray

O God our Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son. We thank you for His word and teaching. Give us your grace to listen and obey Him. Open our eyes to the marvels of His love. Make us subject to His powers so that we can become good His good instruments in the world. Amen.

May the Living Word of God find a true dwelling place within our hearts and souls today and always.

 

Rev. Fr. Anthony Igbekele

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