Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Mark 1:21-28
As part of the requirements of seminary formation, each of
us met with a spiritual director at least monthly to discuss vocational
discernment and other spiritual things that were taking place. It was helpful because
often the person had gone through similar things or at least knew better how to
respond and could offer some helpful advice. One time I went for a session with
my director and at the end he said, “Brent, I have some homework for you to do
for next time. I want you to sit down at some point this coming week and read
the entire Gospel of Mark in one sitting.” I looked at him a bit confused. “One
sitting? We take a whole year in the liturgical cycle to read it.” But, as
directed, I went home and read Mark’s gospel in one sitting. Much to my
surprise, it only took me a couple of hours with the unexpectedly-short length
of 25 pages.
One thing that I liked is that it read quickly. Believed by many
to be the written account of St. Peter’s own preaching, we can get a glimpse
into what it was to hear the gospel proclaimed in a genuine form. Rather than
lengthy discourses or parables, we hear more frequently the stories of healings
and exorcisms. These were all signs to convince people and to illustrate the
reality that Jesus was truly the Son of God and the Savior anticipated for so
many years. Behind all of these many powerful stories, though, we recognize
that it is the authority of Jesus Christ that is really the key. It is that
authority, which we hear about today in the readings, which enables Him to do
all of the things that we hear about, beginning with the cleansing of the man
in the gospel we just read. It’s about authority.
When we look at the passage given to us this weekend, we
immediately find the Lord teaching in the synagogue, where the people are
astonished at his teaching because He taught with authority, not as the
scribes. You see, the scribes were the scholars of the Law and often spoke in
reference to it in teaching. But rather than simply speak about it, they
constantly reference Rabbi so-and-so who spoke about a particular point and
quoted those who went before them, going all the way back to the Torah (Books
of Moses, first five books of the Old Testament). In stark contrast, Jesus
doesn’t come and reference this or that teacher who went before Him, but boldly
comes and speaks the truth from His own authority – authority meaning literally
‘from one’s substance’ or ‘from one’s self’. Christ speaks from Himself and the
authority given to Him because He is in fact the prophet spoken of in our
reading from Deuteronomy. He is the prophet who will speak the words placed in
His mouth by the Father. He is the one who comes with the authority given by
the Father and with that authority speaks to humanity.
Because is the Son of God and the great prophet, He speaks
authoritatively and things happen. He commands demons to be quiet and they
are. He cast them out and they go. He speaks of healings and they occur. His
authority is true, and not just in Biblical times. It’s not as if the authority
of Christ ended with His Ascension 2000 years ago. Rather, it is still at work
in His Church, in the liturgy, and in the Word of God. His authority still
speaks today.
While in years past, and still sometimes today, the evil
spirits would manifest themselves in very physical and violent ways, today we
often see evil lurking quietly, secretly moving hearts away from the Lord. It
happens in addictions such as drug use, pornography, and lust for power or material
things which lead us away from the Lord by sinning. It also happens in
addictions to technology and other things that lead us away from the Lord not
by sin but by keeping us from the silence where the Lord is found. And so we
gather tonight and bring those addictions to the Lord, all of those places of
darkness where the Lord is not fully present in our hearts, and we lay them at
the foot of the altar and ask the Lord to speak with His authority once again
and gain for us that freedom that brings peace. The freedom that permits us to
be free once again and to rejoice in the knowledge of God’s love and mercy. May
the Lord grant us the graces.
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