Teaching with Authority ~ 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) ~ by Ronnie Archer

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dt 18:15-20
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9
1 Cor 7:32-35
Mk 1:21-28

In the Deuteronomy reading, the people of Israel weren't yet prepared to have an encounter with God. They feared hearing HIS voice; neither did they want to see the great fire anymore. They feared they would die!

Moses was considered to be the "model" of a prophet, since he was the one who God spoke through to His people. Moses assured the people that after his death, "the Lord would raise up for them, a prophet like him, from their own kin." (Dt 18:18) God would put His words into his mouth. That prophet shall tell them all that God commands him. Whoever did not listen to the prophet would speak in HIS name, would have to answer for it.

St. Paul, in the second reading to the people of Corinth, is saying that since the unmarried are free of responsibilities of marriage and home life, they are better able to devote themselves to the works of the Lord.

The Gospel of Mark this week, tells of the time that Jesus and the Apostles went to Capernaum, and entered the synagogue to teach. There was an unclean spirit that had attached itself to one of them. The people were amazed at Jesus' teaching, and astonished to see the authority with which Jesus confronted the unclean spirit and how it obeyed Him, immediately coming out of the man.

A teacher should always show good example. We have to open ourselves to Jesus' teaching, asking Him to drive out our "unclean spirits"... because we are all called to teach and spread the GOOD NEWS about Jesus. We can do that best IF we are ourselves, living in God's will and ... "Walking in Authority".


~ Artist: James J. Tissot (1836-1902) - The Pharisees Question Jesus Christ