Today's Gospel:

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MK 1:21-28

Then they came to Capernaum,
and on the sabbath Jesus 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.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
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!"
Jesus rebuked him and said,
"Quiet! Come out of him!"
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
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."
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

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Speak for Yourself!

 

Upon Reflection:  :  Did you know that every person on this planet who can communicate is the world's leading expert on at least one thing?  In other words, everyone can speak with absolute authority about something.  That means that you are the world's leading authority.  There is one topic that you know better than anyone else in the world.  Do you know what that topic is?  Why, it's YOU of course!  Nobody can speak with as much authority on the topic of you as you.  

 

Now, this is not to say that you are completely aware of every aspect of your own being and can thus speak with clarity concerning the totality of what makes you you.  Indeed, there is much mystery about you that has not yet been revealed.  And this is also not to say that others do not have some very accurate insights about you of which you are not aware.  Anyone who has been in any kind of relationship knows that there are things about himself or herself that go unrealized until someone points it out.  

 

However, the bottom line is that when it is all said and done, you blow the competition away.  No one comes close to understanding the inner and outer workings of you than you.  If you agree with me on this, then you are ready to understand a very important component of this week's Gospel.  

 

Jesus speaks with authority because he knows who he is.  He knows that his deepest self, his truest self is everything that God is and thus speaks with confidence.  He seldom quotes outside sources because when he speaks, he is ultimately speaking about himself.  Almost all his teaching comes from inside. (The same can be said about Paul)  

 

How sad it is for the many who are completely unaware that we have this same authority, that our deepest and truest selves are the images and the likenesses of God.  Getting in touch with this reality would reveal that we too have "the words of everlasting life."  

 

I am convinced that this is one of the main reasons why Jesus came:  to authenticate us, to show us how to be in touch with that Inner Authority whom we call the Holy Spirit and thus speak Truth as a result.

 

Being able to quote scripture and catechisms is all well and good, but if we cannot speak with inner authority based on self-actualization and honest contemplation, then I am afraid that those unclean spirits will never listen and obey.