The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)
The nobody from Nazareth does a shameful thing today – “have you heard, the carpenter’s teaching in the synagogue!?!” But just so it’s clear that Jesus can do this, Mark depicts Jesus dealing, handily, with a demon-shrieking-man and the faithful are impressed!
“He teaches with authority!”
This authority of Jesus is “teaching = actions” authority. What he does and what he says are seamlessly united. And what he does is restore a marginalized person to the community.
That frightens us because it shatters our outsider-insider worldview and favors uncompromising actions that declare, “by God’s power you are restored to this community”.
ReStart – Building Separation & Divorce Resilience
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Sunday reading for January 31, 2021 at USCCB
Photo Attribution Art by Diccon Olivier
Diccon is my brother.
Love this! Thank you Peter – you are an artist of words.
Thanks. Always nice to hear when people find the reflection meaningful. 🙂
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