Jesus’s authority isn’t only about rules. Noah Banasiewicz reflects on how it’s about helping us make a true interior transformation. Based on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 28, 2024.
What is this? A new teaching with authority
Hi, I’m Noah Banasiewicz and this is my one-minute reflection.
Often when we think of authority, we think of rules. Curfews, deadlines, and even dress codes can feel like things that stifle our creativity. These rules can make us feel as though people in charge are trying to take away our freedom. But today, in the Gospel of Mark, we hear that the people gathered in the synagogue were astonished by Jesus saying that he speaks as one with authority.
So why do the people celebrate the authority of Jesus? Christ brought a profound difference in his understanding of the Law. His teachings were not about legalistic adherence but an authentic pursuit of the very God the Law spoke of. Jesus calls for a true, interior transformation.
While we may not be suffering from possession by an unclean spirit, we are no less unfree. We suffer from doubts, fears, and insecurities. Yet Jesus stands before us, offering a new way of life through his teachings, capable of dispelling our inner turmoil.
In opening ourselves to the authority of Christ’s teachings, we find liberation, restoration, and healing from the things that bind us. We find the freedom we so desperately long for.
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