The teaching of Jesus is straight from his heart, from his relationship with God

 
Reading: The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Mark 1:22.
 
Good morning, happy Tuesday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) Jesus and His disciples are in Capernaum.  As was His custom, Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach.   His listeners were amazed at his teaching.   Jesus taught with authority, unlike the scribes.  In the synagogue was a man who had an unclean spirit.  When the man saw Jesus, the unclean spirit within him cried out asking Jesus what His purpose was.  Immediately, this unclean spirit had recognized Jesus as the “Holy One.”
Jesus rebuked the spirit and instructed it to be come out of the man and the spirit instantly obeyed.  All who witnessed this event were amazed at Jesus’ power to heal and his ability to release unclean spirits.  Immediately, word began to spread of Jesus’ wondrous powers.  His fame spread throughout all of Judea.
 
Mark does not say that the witnesses of the healing believed in Jesus.   Yes, they were astonished by his power to heal, but did they listen to His Word?  Did they recognize Him as the “Christ?”  Did they decide to follow Jesus or did they simply listen and then go home and talk about Him?  Did thoughts of Jesus and His preaching stay with them or did they simply go back to their daily routine?
 
Do we truly recognize Jesus as the Christ?  Do we know Jesus personally?  Do we have a relationship with Him or is He simply a figure in the Gospels?  Jesus is at work in our lives, though most likely not in as dramatic a way as was depicted in this passage.  Jesus is healing us even if we don’t see it.  Jesus is gracing us with all we need.  Today may we look for Jesus as we move through our day.  Jesus is with us!
 
Jesus not only preached the Good News in what he said but more so by what he did. Today’s Gospel story shows us a person who spoke with a courage and a wisdom that struck the ordinary people with its ring of authority.
 
For a few moments of prayer let yourself notice and admire what the people were so impressed with about Jesus.
 
The teaching of Jesus is straight from his heart, from his relationship with God. I ask God to bless me so that all my words and actions profess my faith. Although I may value the authority given by education, ordination, or election, I consider how God's Spirit is given to me so that I, like Jesus, might minister healing and truth.
 
I wonder, can we welcome the same empowering and liberating authority of Jesus in our lives. Can we listen to his teaching by steeping ourselves in his Gospel message and experiencing his healing and liberation today?
 
Blessings,
 
Luis+