By Fr Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
4th Sunday of the Year – Cycle B – January 31, 2021
Readings: Deut 18:15-20; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28
“They were all amazed, and said, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority!’” (Mk 1:27)
Prologue: In the Bible, all authority is derived from God. One can distinguish between ‘authority’ and ‘power’ in the same way as one would distinguish between shatki (spiritual, religious, moral influence) and satta (physical, political, military might), respectively. Authority is cultivated, power is delegated. Authority springs from within and increases with age and experience, while
power comes from outside, and is seen when someone controls someone else; power decreases with one’s retirement or with advancement of age. This distinction can help us to understand the Spirit-filled ‘ministry of the word’ of prophets like Moses and Jesus in today’s readings.
Three Scriptural Signposts:
1. Moses’ prophetic authority: The first reading belongs to the central section of the Book of Deuteronomy (16:18 – 18:22), which describes the roles of the officers of the Israelite theocratic society that Yahweh—through the mediation of Moses, his faithful servant-prophet—is setting up for the Chosen People. Each of these officials—judges, kings, priests or prophets—were obviously expected to govern in the name of God and in conformity to God’s Law. By so doing, they would be instruments in laying the foundations for the creation of the ‘contrast community’ that God envisaged, which would be a ‘light to the nations’ by way of their exemplary social, political and religious life. Moreover, the prophet, in particular, was expected to be the mouth of Yahweh. In the verses preceding today’s reading (18:10-14), God warns the Israelites against the use of magical techniques peddled by sorcerers, fortunetellers and soothsayers; rather, “You must remain completely loyal to the Lord, your God” (v.13). To foster such fidelity, Yahweh promises to send them true prophets like Moses, who says, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people” (v.15).
Indeed, there was no greater prophet than Moses, of whom the book of Exodus (33:11) says, “The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” While Yahweh promises: “I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet” (v.18), and while there were many prophets succeeding Moses, upon return from the Babylonian exile (approx. 538 BC), the people began to interpret this line as referring to an individual prophet, the Messiah, who was to come. They saw this prophesy fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the Christ, as evident in passages like Acts 3:22 and Jn 1:21; 6:14; 7:40, etc.
- Jesus teaches with authority through his words: The gospel passage begins with Jesus—supposedly an ordinary carpenter’s son (Mk 6:3)—entering sacred space (synagogue) and working within sacred time (Sabbath) of the Jews. In that sacred space and time, Jesus “taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (vv.21c-22). Here, two models and mindsets are juxtaposed: Jesus, with little ‘formal learning’ on the one hand, and the scribes, on the other hand: the ‘official theologians’ of the time who took pride in knowing the Torah like the back of their hand. While nothing is said about the content of Jesus’ teaching on that Sabbath, the impact of his words causes astonishment and admiration.
In Indian-English, we’d say the scribes ‘by hearted’ (memorized) everything, certified by their religious institution, slavishly adhering to their traditions, parroting quotations of famous teachers of the past. By sharp contrast, Jesus had no official religious or institutional backing and depended totally on the wellspring of Spirit-filled wisdom to touch the hearts of his listeners. His simple teachings, parables, stories and examples taken from nature and the day-to-day life of ordinary people pierced the hearts of people. Moreover, since his authority came directly from his Abba-God, he could say authoritatively: “You have heard it said …. But I say to you….” The great: “I” of God.
- Jesus’ authority manifest in his works: If Jesus’ words have had such an incisive impact on the people in the synagogue, his works will go further still. In the hallowed precincts of the synagogue where one would expect only good to be found, Jesus encounters “a man with an unclean spirit; and 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.” (vv.23,24). Saviour is confronted by Satan; good must counter evil; God’s Spirit must destroy evil spirits. Inspired by their codes of purity-versus-pollution, the scribes often warned people that they would become defiled by contact with an unclean spirit; hence, they were told: “Steer clear; run away!” Evil spirits abounded with such a policy of avoidance. Jesus is different. He confronts evil head-on. He does not wish to destroy anything or anyone who is good. But his authoritative teachings and words are lifegiving—Spirit-filled, they liberate and free people, humanizing them and empowering them to live as children of God. Jesus “rebukes” the spirits and cries out: “Be silent, and come out of him!” (v.25). In his praxis, Jesus shows them a new way of dealing with evil; namely, evil can be overcome with good, the unclean can be cleansed with a stronger purity. The Holy One of God wins the war; Good News is announced; evil is denounced, and Jesus’ “fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee” (v.28). The performative force of God’s word is ‘new’ and different from what they were weary of hearing: scribal dos and don’ts, ritualistic rules and regulations.
Possible Link to the Theme in the Psalm and Second Reading:
The response to the psalm (95) — “O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts” (v.8) — exhorts the faithful to listen to God’s voice echoed by the prophets like Moses. The second reading is a continuation of last week’s excerpt wherein Paul expresses his belief that his celibate state of life is better than the married one as it enables him to give undivided attention “to the affairs of the Lord”. He presumes that married people are “anxious about the affairs of the world” (v.33). Today, experience tells us that this is not always true. However, when the whole chapter 7 is taken into account, Paul says that his views are expressed “not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord” (v.35). In keeping with
our theme, one can say that any Christian assumes moral authority when he or she ‘walks the talk’ and achieves an inner freedom that comes from living a genuine life in the Spirit.
Pope Francis on the difference between ‘authority’ and ‘power’: “Service is the way for authority to be exercised in the Christian community. Those who serve others and lack real prestige exercise genuine authority in the Church. Jesus calls us to see things differently, to pass from the thirst for power to the joy of quiet service, to suppress our instinctive desire to exercise power over others, and instead to exercise the virtue of humility”
In Lighter Vein:
A doctor examined an old, seemingly lifeless man in bed. Then, shaking his head, he said to the man’s wife, “Condolences! I’m sorry to say that your husband is no more.” A feeble sound of protest came from the lifeless man in bed: “No, I’m still alive!” The old woman snapped back, “Shut up! Doesn’t the doctor know more than you?” The Jews believed the teachings of the scribes and ‘doctors’ of the law until they heard Jesus’ words and saw his works—packed with authority! …. He was very different from the scribes and doctors of law.
Fr. Francis Gonsalves, SJ is the Executive Secretary, CCBI Comm. of Theology & Doctrine and President, Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune and former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.