Sunday Gospel Reflection
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 1:21-28
The Most Inspiring Teacher
T. Rex Paras
Ministry of Lectors and Commentators
In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:21-28), the people’s reaction to Jesus’ manner of teaching is highlighted twice: “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority” (Mk 1:22) and “All were amazed and asked one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority.’” (Mk 1:27). The astonishment or the amazement of those who witnessed Jesus’ teaching was brought about by the way Jesus taught—he taught with authority. In Luke’s version of this account (Lk 4:31-37), the word ‘power’ is used alongside ‘authority’ to describe the words of Jesus. He spoke with authority and power.
Where do Jesus’ authority and power come from?
For rulers and leaders of this world, especially in modern-day democracies, their authority and power emanate from the office to which they have been elected by the people. The case of Jesus is different. While we acclaim our Lord Jesus Christ as King of the Universe and dedicate a Solemnity in honor of such kingship, Jesus is poles apart from our present-day rulers and leaders.
Jesus led by example. He taught that “lov[ing] the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Then, he followed it up with the second greatest commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:39) And, Jesus lived by his own teaching. Perhaps the best illustration of Jesus abiding by the two greatest commandments, which he himself identified, is his sacrifice on the cross. As the time of his crucifixion and death was nearing, “he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives” (Lk 22:39) to pray. “He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.” (Lk 22:44) Here, we see a king bowed down and full of anguish. Yet, even if he was overcome by suffering, his prayer to God was steadfast, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” (Lk 22:42) Is there a better way to show one’s wholehearted love for God than to trust completely in him?
Many of us profess our love for God, but find it difficult to let His will, and not ours, be done. Worse, we claim to love God, but refuse to love our neighbor as ourselves. Thus, our obedience to the first commandment is fruitless. Love of God should metamorphose into love of neighbor. Jesus could not have been any clearer on this. In one of the greatest examples of humility and service, the teacher and leader “took off his outer garments[,] … took a towel and tied it around his waist.” (John 13:4) Then, he stooped down before the disciples and “began to wash [their] feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.” (Jn 13:5) After Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he told them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (Jn 13:12-15) Jesus taught by example.
This is precisely why Jesus’ teachings are authoritative and powerful! The lessons he imparts are made clear not by far-removed examples, but by the very life he led. May we be so astonished and amazed when Jesus speaks to us with authority and power that we are moved to follow his example.
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Artwork:
Jesus in the Synagogue at Nazareth
by Greg K. Olsen
