God's Authority

01-31-2021Weekly Reflection

The description of a future messenger of God fits any prophets in the Old Testament. Yahweh grants the request of the office of the prophet as the mediator between God and the people. But God will also send a final prophet, the eschatological prophet of the end times. Some see Jesus as the fulfillment of the eschatological prophet. The early Christian community saw Christ as the final prophet.

God knows not all people can dedicate themselves totally to Him. Thus, He respects the different state of life, married, and unmarried state. A single person is free of all worries of temporal things. He/she can exclusively offer oneself to the Lord, with all heart and soul. A married person, on the other hand, will be preoccupied with many other things. Like, other responsibilities towards wife and children.

The sabbath (Hebrew Shabbat) is the day of rest commanded by the Lord since He rested on the 7th day (Gen. 2:2-3). A day of rest also for the people (Ex. 20:10-11). Sabbath is a sign of dignity, a sign of God’s irrevocable covenant with Israel. It is a memorial of the Exodus, their journey out of Egypt. Jesus always respects the sabbath. He initiates healing and deliverance (expelling of demons) on a sabbath. It is a sign of renewal of the covenant and restoration of human dignity.

The possessed are under the influence of the devil or unclean spirits. The priests declare them ritually unclean or defiled, thus are prohibited from worship and fellowship with the community. Casting out the unclean spirit was one of the central aspects of the public ministry of Jesus. Following the example of the Lord. The Church recognizes the necessity of the ministry of exorcism to free people possessed by unclean spirits. Exorcism: is directed at the expulsion of demons, liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus granted to the Church. (CCC 1673)

Jesus and His disciples made Capernaum as their home base. He took up residence there: When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. (Mk. 2:1) Like all pious Jew, Jesus follows all the religious customs of His people, He observes the sabbath and attends the synagogue services. So that, when He is in Capernaum, He celebrates the sabbath services. Jesus speaks at the sabbath services, and he amazes people because He speaks with such authority, unlike the Scribes.

There are different kinds of authority. First, there is the authority of a wise person. Second: authority of a prophet. He speaks for God; his main task is to deliver the message of God. And then, there is the authority of Jesus Christ, who speaks with authority because He is God. Jesus speaks with authority as God; thus, He performs miracles, healings, and casting out unclean spirits. The demon recognizes his opponent, the Holy One of God (Mk. 1:24). In a simple command, the unclean spirit leaves the possessed man. Only the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could speak with such authority.

Mama Mary, teach us your humility so that we may also learn to fully submit to the authority of your Son, Jesus Christ.