(Tuesday, January 14)
We moderns do not like monopolies. We are happy that there are many different radio stations to choose from. If we don’t like the way one of them presents the news, we punch a button and tune in to another one. When it comes to our gas and electric company, however, we deal with a monopoly. There is only one source of electricity in town, and if we don’t buy into it we go without power or turn to more primitive sources of energy.
What about salvation and the ultimate destiny of our souls? Are the universalists right in claiming there are multiple paths to salvation or is the Church right? Does Jesus have a “monopoly” on salvation? As much as we don’t like the idea of monopolies, we confess that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him.
We continue to join St. Mark in reading about the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry (Mark 1:21-28).
Let’s listen.
“Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”
We are surprised that Jesus began his ministry well outside Jerusalem, in the city of Capernaum—in the “dark” regions of the north. And instead of making a “splash” on the public square, he went to the humble synagogue as he did growing up. When invited to teach, Jesus taught from the Bible just as the local leaders did. There was something different, however, about his teachings. When he spoke it was “as one having authority.” It was as though God himself were doing the speaking. The people knew that something new was going on—same synagogue, same Bible, but a new source of authority. This is not to put down the scribes. Surely what they taught was true, but it was not empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit: he cried out…Jesus rebuked him and said, ‘Quiet! Come out of him!’ The unclean spirit convulsed and with a loud cry came out of him.”
God provided an “exclamation point” to his authorization of Jesus. Unclean spirits could not rest in his presence, and with a firm word Jesus cast them out. Who is this man?
And that is exactly the question people began to ask.
“All were amazed and asked one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
Jesus was the only one among the leaders of God’s chosen people who taught “with authority.” The people recognized this. Never before had they heard God speaking so directly and powerfully to them. And so his fame quickly spread throughout the region of Galilee.
God had planted his one “electric plant” on our planet. He confirmed who Jesus was and exercised his authority through him. Later, when Jesus sent out his disciples, he gave them authority to do the works he was doing. It wasn’t a matter of his disciples just imitating Jesus and memorizing his ideas. Jesus conferred on them the Father’s authority.
We are privileged to be part of the Church whom God authorizes to continue to teach and act in Jesus’ name. Do we realize how blessed we are to be plugged into Jesus Christ?
“Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal” (Today’s entrance antiphon).
