Word to the Wise
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - Tuesday in the First Week in Ordinary Time
[Hebrews 2:5-12 and Mark 1:21-28]Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes....
Parents, religious superiors and "bosses" of all kinds know that at some point they must insist on something by saying, "Because I say so!" The results of this may or may not command obedience, depending on the amount of trust in the "boss" or the amount of coercive force that the "boss" has at his or her command! Teachers also know that they must support their teaching with references to authorities that are worthy of respect and belief. In Jesus' day, the scribes taught by invoking authoritative figures from the past, such as Moses or famous rabbis. In Jesus' case, however, he spoke on his own. His own "word" had authority. He demonstrates this in today's gospel scripture by commanding an unclean spirit to leave a man, and the unclean spirit obeys! Other teachers and healers of the day would command by virtue of some higher authority, but Jesus commands on his own authority.
Faced with this kind of authority, what is our 21st century American democratic response? Do we withdraw into our own safe little world so as to avoid being confronted? Do we resist? Do we bargain? Are we threatened by the existence of such authority in another person? I've experienced such feelings personally and in an occasional role as teacher and religious superior (I have the testimony of parents!). Are we tempted to say to Jesus, even after his exorcism of the unclean spirit, "Who do you think you are?" What we should really ask is, "Who do WE think he is?" The answer to that question will determine our response to everything else! AMEN
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