13-Jan-15

Gospel MK 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 he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another,
“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.
Reflection:
"He taught them as one having authority."
In the time of Jesus, the common way of teaching among the Jews, was to justify one's position by quoting the ideas of others who had preached on the same subject.
Jesus, however, preached and taught based on what he knew to be right in accordance with the will of God.
He was not arrogant, but neither was he intimated by the opinion or authority of others.
Society tells us to help others as long as they are trying: help others as long as they can prove they're not taking advantage of the system; help others as long as they're worthy, not taking drugs or alcohol.
At My Brother's Keeper, what is our authority for serving people without any questions asked or requiring prerequisites?
Our authority comes from emulating the way Jesus helped people. In all the miracles in the Gospels where Jesus made the blind see, the deaf hear, the crippled walk, and the leper cleansed: there is not one instance where Jesus ever asked anyone a question to determine their worthiness. At My Brother's Keeper, we serve as He did.
We are made in the image of God. Let us love as He does.