GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 10TH JANUARY 2017
TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Hebrews 2:5-12
PSALM: Psalm 8:2, 5-9
GOSPEL: Mark 1:21-28
THEME: WORDS OF POWER
A head teacher of a school walks into a noisy classroom and orders, “keep quiet”. Instantly, the noise level drops and sanity is restored. The same teacher risks being shot down if he should walk into a battlefield and issue an order for a ceasefire. His order in a battlefield carries no weight because he has no authority there. In sum, words are empty and powerless when they have no authority backing them.
The place of action in our Gospel text for today is Capernaum, specifically in a synagogue. There in the synagogue, Jesus teaches and heals a demoniac. The consequent effect of his action on his audience is captured in two verses of our text:
1. “And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mk. 1:22).
2. “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him’ ” (Mk. 1:27).
In comparing the above two verses, one would observe that the word that stands out is ‘authority’ ( ‘exousia’ in Greek). It is an ability, power or strength which one possesses or exercises. The entire public ministry of Jesus, starting from Galilee, was an exercise of total “exousia”. Divine authority backed whatever he said and did. His utterences and actions were creative and thus caused things to happen. This was what set him apart from the scribes of his time.
Many of us do so many things but achieve so little simply because we have no authority backing us. The good news is that in Christ, divine authority is available for mighty works. In Christ, we have what it takes to bring about an effective change wherever we find ourselves.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, fill me with the power that you exercised during your public ministry on earth. May I become your instrument of change and transformation wherever I find myself. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).