Read:
Mark 1:14-28
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fish for people.' 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and he cried out, 'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.' 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent, and come out of him!' 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, 'What is this? A new teaching-with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.' 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Think:
He taught as one with authority - and not as the scribes... I was a political science major oh so many years ago in undergraduate studies. It feels like a life time ago, or maybe 2 life times ago. But one of the major discussions which poli sci nerds salivate over is the question of authority, who has it, how do they get it and what does it have to do with power. I never thought that my faith would become a breeding ground for my not so secret poli sci fantasies to run rampant. What was the difference between Jesus and the Scribes? What was the difference between what he was teaching and what they were teaching? They were using the same scriptures, speaking in the same forums and talking to the same audience in the synagogue at Capernaum. But the crowd thought of him as one with a new teaching one with authority, which gave him power. Or was it that he had power first and from his power came authority? Hello Chicken, meet your egg, hello egg, meet your Chicken. Those who believe that Jesus' message is something special are those who follow him, those who don't think that Jesus' message is something special study him.
In my second life, I was a philosopher, I read the works of Socrates as written by Plato, and the works of Aristotle as influenced by Plato, and I remember a professor comparing Plato and the Gospel writers and thinking that, that was an odd comparison. But as I think about it today I don't think for him that was an odd comparison. For me it was because even though I didn't know it at the time, even though I didn't want to admit it in my small liberal arts agnostic if not atheist University, I was not a student of Christ, but a disciple of Jesus. I followed his teachings. I didn't read his writings or the writings of his followers. I accepted him not an authority, but as The Authority. That is what made it difficult for me to take part in the beer battles with my classmates. I wasn't sure of it at the time, but I know why they didn't understand my argument now. Because we were talking about different things. The authority about which they spoke was one of popular vote, or opinion, or support. The authority about which I was speaking was one of nature, creation and discernment. What they heard when they listened to my argument was egoism, tyranny and despotism, but what was lacking was the understanding that Jesus was without ego, desire to rule or desire to subjugate. This is the authority I seek to follow in my daily life and work- one that seeks humility, justice and mercy at all costs.
Prayer:
Merciful God, Father, help me to recognize your authority in all things. To seek justice in all acts and to find humility in all that I undertake. Guide protect and strengthen me in my daily life and work so that I might follow you truly and not only study your ways and your laws. Help me to be a true disciple like Andrew, Simon, James and John and be willing to follow you at the risk of losing all that I hold dear. Amen
Contemplation:
I have been sitting on the couch all day - I am going to attempt to meditate for 15 minutes, but I know that I will be lucky if I get 5, because I hurt my knee in a fall yesterday and it is a 5 on a pain scale of 1-10. Honestly sometimes the body wins, over the mind.
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