Unchallengeable Authority

“A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

Mark 1:27b

Prophets are the mouthpieces of God, speaking what God has commanded them to proclaim to the people for the salvation of their souls. The prophets we hear of in the Old Testament teach and preach under the authority of God; however, in the fullness of time, and according to His covenant and faithfulness, God raised up a prophet for the people who would save them from their sins once and for all, a prophet who would teach with His own authority, Someone with unchallengeable authority — the Son of God.

Some people think they have authority but in reality they do not. Others abuse the authority entrusted to them. Usually authority or power comes with “office” and not to the person holding that office. So, when we say the Pope has power and authority, he does as long as he holds the Office of the Bishop of Rome. All priests share in the ministerial priesthood of Christ, and so they share in the authority of Christ the Head as long as they carry out the will of God in accordance with their vocation. By virtue of our baptism Christians share in Christ’s threefold office of priest, prophet, and king. So in a very real way all the baptized are prophets in as far as we preach and teach what Jesus has taught and remain in communion with the universal Church. We preach and teach with the authority of Christ by virtue of our baptism, but Jesus teaches on His own authority.

When a man possessed with an evil spirit approaches Jesus, the evil spirit immediately recognized Jesus and they knew they had no chance whatsoever. The Lord does not dialogue with the spirit, He simply commands “Quiet! Come out of him!” and the spirit is gone. If the Pharisees or the other elders of the Law tried to do this with their own authority, it would not work because they have no authority apart from the Law. But now, the Law Himself was before them and they did not even know. Jesus is the Son of God and He is the New Covenant, the fullness of revelation, the Savior promised in the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 3:15).

Brothers and sisters, we must always remember to whom we belong. We belong to God. We belong to the One whom created all things and who commands all things. There is nothing that God cannot do. We live in this world but we do not belong to it. The enemy persuades that the authority of this world is what we ought to live under, but the truth is that apart from and out of conformity with the authority of God, the authority of this world is an illusion, a web of lies. Let us never find ourselves under the wrong authority. May love and mercy be our compass, guiding us towards the banner of the unchallengeable authority of Christ.

Watch this week’s reflection below.

Now, Not Later

“Jesus said to them,
‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.”

Mark 1:17-18

In this Sunday’s readings we hear once again of call narratives but also a call to action. We read of Jonah’s preaching to the Ninevites and his warning of impending destruction if they do not turn from their wicked ways. In the Gospel, Jesus also calls for repentance, not simply to turn from their old ways or to do what they know in their hearts to be right, but Jesus also gives a command — “believe in the gospel.”

In the Greek, the word used for gospel is εὐαγγέλιον, which has come to mean “gospel” or “Good News” as we know it today, but for the Romans it was truly good news. It was a proclamation that the battle is over and that victory has been won. This “gospel” that Jesus brings is not another book to add to the canon of Scripture, but is a living message, a message that brings life, a message that is Christ Himself. The Good News is that slavery to sin has been lifted and death no longer has the final word. But we must come to accept this News, we must come to accept the One through whom this Good News comes and who is the living message itself.

In Mark’s Gospel we come to see that there is a sense of urgency or immediacy in his writing. We will often read “and immediately…” in his Gospel. That is to show that the need for conversion is urgent and that the time is now and not later. Hence when Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John as we read in today’s Gospel, they immediately follow Jesus, leaving behind everything. They understood that to follow Jesus was the most important thing to do and it was something that could not wait. If you knew that something amazing was waiting for you behind the door, would you leave and come back later to open the door? It would be ridiculous. And brothers and sisters, that is the approach we ought to have to the call of Jesus for us in our lives.

We must answer His call to follow Him now, today. What is holding us back? What are those nets we are still holding on to that keep us from following Jesus? Peter (Simon) and Andrew abandoned their nets, that which symbolized their old life — the life they have come to know, the life that kept them in their comfort zone — immediately because they believed that the life Jesus calls them too is far greater. Yes, it asks them to move outside of their comfort zone, but they wouldn’t be alone. Jesus would be with them. Jesus remains with us today. Brother and sisters, if Jesus has called us, He will not abandon us; He will provide for us and will give us all that we need to live out our call. The time is now, brothers and sisters, to say “yes” to Christ, to abandon our nets, and to follow Him. The time is now, not later.

Click below to watch today’s reflection.

Called and Chosen

“Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
‘What are you looking for?’”

John 1:38a

Have you ever been chosen to be a part of a team? Do you recall as a child in the school playground when the two team captains begin to choose people to be a part of their team and your name is called? How did it feel? Or maybe you didn’t get called or maybe called last? How did it feel? Sometimes when we are not called or chosen for something we question our value and worth because something in our hearts tell us that we were not good enough, but that’s not necessarily the case. Sometimes we are not chosen for one thing because something else awaits us.

Young Samuel heard a voice in the middle of the night and he thought it was Eli who had called him so he went and inquired. But, Eli said he had not called him. Later Eli realized that the Lord was calling out to Samuel so he instructed him to say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening” if he heard the Voice again. He did and the LORD remained with him, sustaining him in the call to which He has called Samuel.

As Jesus began His public ministry, John the Baptist remained steadfast in His call in testifying to Jesus, crying out in the desert to make straight the paths, and baptizing in the Jordan. While with two of his disciples, John the Baptist caught sight of Jesus and he said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Those two disciples in turn followed Jesus and stayed with Him. An interesting detail here is that the disciples of John became disciples of Jesus, showing us the fruit of fulfilling one’s call. John the Baptist’s call was to testify to Christ and to point the way to Christ for others, and his life did just that. When the appointed time had come and having been taught and prepared by John, the disciples followed the Master Teacher, the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Brothers and sisters, we too have been called and chosen, not for the world, but for heaven. When the world rejects us it is because God has claimed us for His own. When others in this world refuse to befriend us, it is because our true friends are yet to be revealed. Rejection is never a gauge of our worth or dignity, but rather a reminder that something greater awaits us and that Someone has already called and chosen us. We have been called and chosen by God.

Click below to watch the reflection.