In the Gospel of Mark (1:21-28) this weekend we hear the people of Capernaum who have gathered in the Synagogue to hear Jesus teach say to one another: “What is this? A new teaching with authority.” This is in response to Jesus’ words, which call for hope, compassion and joyful living—a caring for one another amid truth.
If human nature illustrates one thing, it is this: “the more things change, the more they stay the same (from an old idiom).” Then sadly I am confident that public debates and dialogues of old might have sounded much the same, not in content certainly but in tenor, as our dialogues and debates do today. Historians would be the best judges of that; but history evidences human nature—control and power—seem eternal.
Jesus, getting back to the point of this bulletin message, spoke Truth wrapped in compassion; He was fearless in calling people to the “most excellent” way of life but understood that bringing people to the Truth meant to meet them where they were and then draw them in with openness and kindness, but without judgment, seeking to lead them to the light of Truth.
Case-in-point, the “unclean spirit,” Jesus did not destroy the man with the unclean spirit but rather drew the evil out of the man, destroying evil but not the temporary vessel of evil.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 574, we hear: “From the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, certain Pharisees and partisans of Herod together with priests and scribes agreed together to destroy him. Because of certain of his acts—expelling demons, forgiving sins, healing on the sabbath day, his novel interpretation of the precepts of the Law regarding purity, and his familiarity with tax collectors and public sinners—some ill–intentioned persons suspected Jesus of demonic possession. He is accused of blasphemy and false prophecy, religious crimes which the Law punished with death by stoning. The Church today also notes that His Teaching with Authority bespoke (From “The Great Crusade of Mercy” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (CM – 21:4) , “Is it not so that I transformed the water into wine and, by giving it to the people to drink, did I not show My grace and My power? In the city of Nain did I not bring back to life the son of a widow? In the wilderness of Judea, in Samaria, in Galilee, and in Capernaum, did I not show My compassion and My love?”
This “new Authority” is evidenced in the fact that Jesus spoke Truth with compassion, hope and joy. And the people responded positively! Wow! Wouldn’t that be something today—to hear Truth, which often times is difficult to accept, but when delivered with kindness and compassion, healing and unity—it can be accepted. Christ’s Word is for every time and place and for all peoples. I hope some people are listening. For that, let us all pray!