Duet. 18:15-20, Psalm 95:1-2,6- 9, 1 Cor. 7:32-35, Mark 1:21-28 What is this? A new teaching with authority.
There’s trouble in River City. Yah, there’s trouble. It starts with a T and that means trouble right here in River City. It’s those kids in the pool hall. Music Man is the prophet of River City. Now there’s trouble right here in Jerusalem. It starts with a J that stands for Jesus, teaching in the Temple as though he knows something and he is a carpenter from Nazareth. What does he have to say for himself? On top of that he drives out unclean spirits as though he has authority. Then on top of that he does it on the Sabbath. What are we going to do about this? We are going to chase him out of theTemple; we are going to find reasons to crucify him.
Today’s readings are calling us to discover the real source of truth in our lives. What is the real source for authority? Where do you look for counsel; where do you look for the answers to meaning? Where do you look for direction? Do we listen to the Harold Hills of this world, like the guy in the movie who showed up in River City? Do we listen to the loudest voice; do we listen to the want-to- be authorities who show up claiming to have all the answers?
The readings focus on getting to know the source of truth. But the trend is to disregard authority in general because I have my own opinions. I know better than anyone else what is good for me. I know how to cast out my own unclean spirits. I just know everything. No one can tell me what to do. Who of us has encountered a personwho thinks this way? Who of us has looked at that person in the mirror?
Moses warns the Israelites that God will raise a source for them to listen to. This source, this prophet, will guide them in discovering the answers to their life. This prophet will truly have all the answers. But beware he tells them, you must listen to what he tells you if you want to have a good life. Whoever does not listen to his words will pay for it. How will they know that he is the true source, they ask? If he is not, then what he says will not come to pass. In this passage Moses is foretelling the coming of Jesus, the source for all meaning.
The Psalmist echoes this warning, “If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts.” When Jesus speaks to you, give him your attention. Open your heart to his call. Most of us could argue that Jesus does not speak to us. But if he did we would certainly stop what we are doing to take note of what he says. The philosopher would warn that the stopping comes first. He would say that we need to stop first; then hear his voice.
Many of us, including myself would take offense with a superficial reading of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. At first blush it reads that it is better to be single than married for if you are single you will have more time to listen for the Lord. It sounds like he is saying that the single life is the higher calling. Those of us married and those of us with children would take exception to this message. But if we read a little deeper a moderate ear could hear him say that whether we are married or single we must stay close to the source, stay connected to Christ. The purest love and most joyful life come to those who have a relationship with Jesus for he is true love and true joy.
In the Gospel, we come to a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Everyone is overcome with the authority of this man who violates the law of the Sabbath, teaches with authority and casts out evil spirits who refer to him as the “Holy One of God!” This reading is not about casting out unclean spirits, it is first about teaching truth with authority. This is Jesus’ brand, this is what spreads his fame everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee and as we now know the whole world. This authority, this Holy One of God intersected history, everything since his coming has related to him. The tensions in medicine, law, education, politics and economics were created by His teachings. He polarized the good from the bad, the right from the wrong; the natural from the unnatural.
Today, over one third of the global population follows his teachings. You cannot pick up the paper, or listen to the news reports without hearing something related to the movement that he started 2000 years ago in the temple on the day reported by this Gospel of Mark.
So what is to be our response to these readings today? First, we are called to check our source. Who are we listening to for our path in life? Who are we listening to for the direction in our daily actions? Who are we reaching out to when there are unclean spirits in our lives? No unclean spirit needs to be cast out of me, you say. Well, how about anger, is that an unclean spirit? How about hatred, lack of trust, lust, dependency? We must come to realize that in our human condition we all experience these sins, these unclean spirits.
So, today we are reminded that Jesus is the source, the answer. Prayer and Eucharist, and Lenten Book Study are the answers because they lead us to the source. We are called to answer the question, will we stop if we hear the voice of Christ in our life or do we need to practice stopping so that we can hear the voice of Christ in our life? The single most important principle of our Catholic faith is that Jesus is the only true authority on everything. He is the source for salvation. He is as John 14:6 reports, “the way, the truth and the life.” That means that if we want a great life, and I don’t mean one without pain and suffering, we are all going to get that anyway, but a life with answers that makes sense, Jesus has to be source, the authority.
So how do we do that you ask? The answer is we need an obstruction. That’s
right. We all need to put something in our way that takes us His way. So why not do the same with the tools for our relationship with Christ. Why not make the Bible or Rosary an obstruction. Make them the last thing you see before you get into bed and the first thing you see before you get up in the morning. If you really want to make Jesus the source in your life, find an obstruction that makes you stop. Perhaps taking a copy of this homily home with you.
Reflection question for this week: “What can I put in my path to bring me to Christ?”