My Sisters and Brothers:
Today’s Gospel tells us that “the people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes of old.” It also tells us that “the people were amazed and asked one another, what is this, a new teaching?” (See Mark 1:21-28).
The questions that comes to my mind this week as I reflect on the Scripture readings is: What was this “new teaching,” and what did it truly mean for the disciples of Jesus “to acknowledge the authority of Jesus over all aspects of their lives?” It seems to me the message and authority of Jesus was not only meant to be “new” in the first century in that small synagogue in that remote little town of Capernaum, but that it must somehow be “renewed” even in our own time and place. Isn’t it true, that without constant renewal, we can easily become complacent about our values, about our ways of living, about our obligations towards others, and even about our faith?
Perhaps such was the situation with those “spiritual people” whom Jesus encountered in that synagogue in Capernuam. There is no doubt in my mind that the message and ministry of Jesus was absolutely radical for those people and in that time and place. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks with authority, and then he reaches out to the “possessed man” (i.e., a person in great need), and he brings him back to wholeness and health! In saying what he said, and in doing what he did, Jesus “broke the rules” and no doubt started a movement that truly could only be understood as a “religious revolution.”
This fresh new message, and this new way of doing things, especially his radical approach to serving the needy, characterized the entire life and ministry of Jesus. He constantly preached the Good News of God’s Kingdom for those who needed to hear the message the most, and he always and in many ways, responded to the needs of the poor, the sick, the sinners, “the possessed,” and the outcasts.
As we reflect on today’s Gospel, might we also consider moving away from any complacency that we have acquired over the years, and might we as well attempt to renew even our contemporary approach to the radical teaching and example of Jesus Christ? The scribes who are mentioned in our Gospel today were probably fond of saying things like “we have always done it that way, and there is no need to change.” Unlike those who say such things, even those among us today, may we be like those people in Capernaum who recognized the authority of Jesus, who were astonished and amazed by his teaching, and who then embraced the new way of life he offered to them.
In our desire to be obedient to the message and ministry of Jesus, may we never become complacent! As good Catholic Christians, and as we continually strive to be authentically renewed in our faith, may we always enthusiastically serve others, especially those who are most in need!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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Today’s Gospel tells us that “the people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes of old.” It also tells us that “the people were amazed and asked one another, what is this, a new teaching?” (See Mark 1:21-28).
The questions that comes to my mind this week as I reflect on the Scripture readings is: What was this “new teaching,” and what did it truly mean for the disciples of Jesus “to acknowledge the authority of Jesus over all aspects of their lives?” It seems to me the message and authority of Jesus was not only meant to be “new” in the first century in that small synagogue in that remote little town of Capernaum, but that it must somehow be “renewed” even in our own time and place. Isn’t it true, that without constant renewal, we can easily become complacent about our values, about our ways of living, about our obligations towards others, and even about our faith?
Perhaps such was the situation with those “spiritual people” whom Jesus encountered in that synagogue in Capernuam. There is no doubt in my mind that the message and ministry of Jesus was absolutely radical for those people and in that time and place. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks with authority, and then he reaches out to the “possessed man” (i.e., a person in great need), and he brings him back to wholeness and health! In saying what he said, and in doing what he did, Jesus “broke the rules” and no doubt started a movement that truly could only be understood as a “religious revolution.”
This fresh new message, and this new way of doing things, especially his radical approach to serving the needy, characterized the entire life and ministry of Jesus. He constantly preached the Good News of God’s Kingdom for those who needed to hear the message the most, and he always and in many ways, responded to the needs of the poor, the sick, the sinners, “the possessed,” and the outcasts.
As we reflect on today’s Gospel, might we also consider moving away from any complacency that we have acquired over the years, and might we as well attempt to renew even our contemporary approach to the radical teaching and example of Jesus Christ? The scribes who are mentioned in our Gospel today were probably fond of saying things like “we have always done it that way, and there is no need to change.” Unlike those who say such things, even those among us today, may we be like those people in Capernaum who recognized the authority of Jesus, who were astonished and amazed by his teaching, and who then embraced the new way of life he offered to them.
In our desire to be obedient to the message and ministry of Jesus, may we never become complacent! As good Catholic Christians, and as we continually strive to be authentically renewed in our faith, may we always enthusiastically serve others, especially those who are most in need!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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