4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Cycle B)

Teaching with Authority

(Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-10; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28)

When an individual speaks with “authority,” it instils confidence in listeners, suggesting that the speaker conveys deep conviction and that the inherent power of belief underpins their words. The First Reading from Deuteronomy and the Gospel Reading from Mark present us with two significant figures, the prophet Moses and Jesus of Nazareth, who were recognised by the covenant community as authoritative voices for speaking with unwavering conviction about God’s message.

Moses, revered as the liberator of the Exodus and the giver of the Law, served as God’s mediator in establishing the Sinai Covenant with the people of Israel. This covenant was foundational for the Israelites, who, under Moses’ leadership, accepted him as their intermediary with God. His role is depicted dramatically in Exodus 20:18-21 and Deuteronomy 5:5, 22-23, which illustrate his unique position: he conveyed God’s commands directly to the people and relayed their prayers and concerns back to God. Throughout his ministry, Moses interceded for the Israelites, exemplifying his authority and commitment to the covenant community, especially during moments of crisis when they fell into sin (see Exodus 32:32-34; Numbers 14:13-20; Psalm 106:23).

In contrast, Jesus of Nazareth came to liberate humanity from the grip of sin and death, offering a transformative message and a new law as the mediator of a superior covenant established within His Kingdom, the universal Church. As noted in Galatians 3:19-20 and 1 Timothy 2:5, this new covenant transcends the previous covenants, embodying the fulfilment of God’s promises to humanity (Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24). The Catholic Church, drawing upon the authority granted by Jesus (John 20:22-23), seeks to uphold His teachings and continue His mission.

In Moses’s final series of homilies to the Israelites, recorded in the First Reading, he proclaims a prophetic promise that God would raise up another prophet, one who would serve as a lawgiver and covenant mediator. This future prophet is expected to speak God’s word with authority, and Moses admonishes the people to heed this voice, underscoring the importance of obedience and accountability in their relationship with God.

The Responsorial Psalm invites us to approach the Lord in heartfelt worship. It draws a beautiful parallel between a shepherd and his sheep, suggesting that just as sheep recognise and respond to their shepherd’s voice with trust and obedience, we too must learn to discern and trust the voice of Christ as He calls us to salvation and deeper communion with Him.

In the Second Reading, Saint Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, teaches with the same divine authority modelled by Moses and Jesus. His commission to preach the Gospel of salvation comes directly from Jesus, who appointed him to bring the “Light of Christ” to the Gentiles, as described in Acts 9:15. Paul’s writings and teachings reflect the authority he was granted, emphasising the importance of spiritual guidance and instruction rooted in divine truth.

In the Gospel Reading, the people were astonished at Jesus’s teaching because He “taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” Jesus taught them a correct understanding of Scripture and the need to apply God’s words in their lives.

After Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist in Perea, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, as noted in the Gospel of Mark (Mk 1:9-11) and the Gospel of John (Jn 1:28), He was tempted in the wilderness (Mk 1:12-13). Following this, He journeyed northward to Galilee, ultimately arriving at the fishing village of Capernaum, a place of significance in the early stages of His ministry.

In Jesus’s time, the covenant community, comprising the Israelites, engaged in daily worship at the Jerusalem Temple, considered the heart of their religious life. This sacred site hosted liturgical services twice daily, every day of the week, where the faithful could present offerings and seek God's favour. Additionally, the local synagogue in each village allowed community members to observe their Sabbath obligation by gathering for prayer and studying Scripture together. As a devoted member of this covenant community, Jesus adhered to these practices and routinely participated in worship at the Capernaum Synagogue.

The New Covenant worship services that followed in Christian tradition incorporated elements from both the synagogue and the temple. Specifically, the Liturgy of the Word reflects the synagogue's scriptural studies, while the Eucharist embodies the temple's sacrificial elements, allowing believers to offer their lives to Christ and receive His grace in a profound way.

In Mark 1:22, the people of Capernaum responded to Jesus's teachings with awe and admiration, noting a clear contrast between His teaching and that of the scribes. Unlike the scribes, known for their formal education and adherence to traditional interpretations of the Law, Jesus taught with a distinctive authority and depth of understanding of Sacred Scripture. The Old Covenant religious landscape was dominated by the scribes and Pharisees, both of whom frequently questioned and challenged Jesus's authority throughout His ministry.

The scribes were typically drawn from the Levite tribe, serving as lesser ministers under the chief priests and receiving extensive training to teach Jewish Law. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were a prominent religious group in first-century Judea, distinguished by their rigorous adherence to the Law. Many scribes found common ground with the Pharisees, who viewed themselves as paragons of righteousness and often looked down upon the average members of the covenant community. They held significant power within the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court.

Jesus took a stand against the hypocrisy and lack of charity displayed by the Pharisees, especially on the last day of His teachings in Jerusalem before His Passion. He rebuked them harshly, calling them a “brood of vipers” and “hypocrites,” as described in Matthew 23:1-36. Other influential religious sects of the time included the Sadducees, who were primarily composed of the chief priests and the Herodian aristocracy, and the Essenes, who led ascetic lives, separating themselves from society to practise voluntary poverty, mysticism, and regular ritual immersion for purification.

In Mark 23-26, Jesus performed a remarkable miracle by healing a man possessed by an “unclean spirit.” This spirit was considered “unclean” because it resisted and defied God's holiness. Disturbingly, the demon recognised Jesus's true identity and inherent divine authority, a testament to its fear and knowledge of Him. In Scripture, demons are viewed as fallen angels, beings created good by God who chose to rebel against Him and follow Satan, who himself was once an angel, as described in Revelation 12:7-9 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 391-95).

In verse 25, Jesus told the spirit to be silent, not wanting a demon to declare His true identity. He understood that His true nature and mission needed to be gradually revealed through His actions and teachings rather than proclaimed by evil spirits.

Many biblical commentators interpret the unfolding narrative of Jesus's life in St. Mark's Gospel as centred on the “mystery” of His true identity and the divine plan He was called to fulfil. The Greek term “mysterion” appears only once in Mark 4:11, signifying “the kingdom” of Jesus Christ. Notably, this term is used only in the singular in this Gospel, whereas other Gospels use it in the plural (as in Matthew 13:11 and Luke 8:10). It appears again in the singular in Romans 16:25. This “mystery” encompasses the secret of Jesus's true identity as the incarnate Kingdom of God, representing the arrival of God's reign that radically transforms human existence.

This revelation of the Kingdom is closely tied to the idea that Jesus’s true identity must remain concealed until the culmination of His mission. Within the mystery surrounding Jesus in Mark's Gospel, several key points emerge:

- Demons recognised His identity yet were silenced by His command (Mark 1:44, 3:11, 5:5).

- The disciples gradually came to understand His true nature but were cautioned not to disclose it publicly (Mark 1:44, 3:12, 5:43, 7:36, 8:26, 30).

- Jesus deliberately used parables to obscure His mission and identity from those ‘outside’ the Kingdom who were unwilling to engage with His message. Understanding this mystery was granted only to those who approached Christ with a sincere and open heart (Mark 4:10-12).

Following the profound example set by Jesus in casting out demon spirits that torment humanity, the Church recognises the vital necessity of liberating afflicted souls from the influence of these malevolent forces through the sacred rite of exorcism, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1673). The powerful Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation serve not only as essential initiation rites into the Christian faith but also extend divine protection against the forces of evil by facilitating the filling and indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the believer’s soul, thereby empowering them to resist and overcome spiritual adversities.

In addition to this protective grace, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, carried out under the mighty influence of the Holy Spirit, continues the teaching authority exercised by our popes, bishops, and priests throughout the Church's extensive history. This tradition emphasises a significant connection between Christ's teachings and those delivered by His appointed representatives today. Just as the people during Jesus’s earthly ministry recognised His divine authority and followed His teachings, which led to the promise of eternal life, we are challenged to acknowledge the Church’s voice of authority as Christ's current representative in the world.

In light of this, we are called to reflect on the words of the Responsorial Psalm: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” This plea urges us to remain open and obedient to the messages God conveys, whether through the Sacred Scriptures or through the ordained ministers of His New Covenant Kingdom within the Church.

The Catechism eloquently teaches us, affirming the Church's authoritative voice: "Christ’s whole earthly life, his words, and deeds, his silences, and sufferings, indeed his manner of being and speaking, is a Revelation of the Father." Jesus Himself proclaimed, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father,” illustrating the profound connection between His existence and the divine will. Similarly, the Father explicitly states, “This is my Son, my chosen; listen to him!” This declaration emphasises the importance of heeding Jesus’s teachings. Our Lord's earthly mission was to fulfil the will of His Father, and even the subtle nuances of His mysteries reflect the depth of God’s love for humanity present among us (CCC 516, referencing Mark 9:7 and 1 John 4:9).

By embracing this understanding, we deepen our relationship with the divine and strengthen our commitment to living out Christ's teachings, which ultimately guide us towards eternal life. Amen