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 pic.twitter.com/UAc5Qy4KMj— The Feast Bay Area (@TheFeastBayArea) January 9, 2018
The woman against woman conflict in the First Book of Samuel is the catalyst for the prayer of Hannah for a son.
* [1:7] In biblical narrative, the social status gained by producing children, especially males, often set woman against woman; cf. e.g., Gn 16, 21, 30. Peninnah’s provocations may be the arrogant boasting mentioned in 2:3.Jesus’ teaching with authority backed by action and making an absolute claim on the hearer in the Gospel of Mark is in the best tradition of the ancient prophets.
* [1:21–45] The account of a single day’s ministry of Jesus on a sabbath in and outside the synagogue of Capernaum (Mk 1:21–31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39). The cleansing in Mk 1:40–45 stands as an isolated story.Angela Maynard comments that Mark seems to be well versed in the use of the literary tool of foreshadowing as in this one brief passage St. Mark gives us a hint of the coming victory over evil and death that we will celebrate on Easter Sunday.
Jesus came upon an ugly situation and took care of it. Consider the times Jesus came to the aid of those on the margins. Just for today reflect upon the extraordinary about Jesus that caused so many to know about and be impressed by him. How did he become so extraordinary given his humble beginnings? What Christian qualities do I possess? Most importantly, how can I go about putting those qualities into action? How can I provide comfort to those who are suffering and on the margins—not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year?Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D., has compiled a summary of Literary Features & Thematic Emphases in the Gospel of Mark.
Don Schwager comments that Jesus was authority incarnate as the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even the demons obeyed. He offers a prayer for faith in Jesus power.
"Lord Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your love and mercy, and the power of your word that sets us free, and brings healing and restoration to body, mind, heart, and spirit.Friar Jude Winkler comments that Hannah feels cursed and in answering her prayer for a son, God gives her a blessing that she returns. The spiritual creature can see Jesus divinity and the people can see the very authority of God in His deeds in the Capernaum synagogue.
A statement on Authority and Christian witness from the Pittsburgh Presbytery describes the role of congregations in calling believers to faith.
We believe that since the Day of Pentecost when the Church was born (Acts 2), God has called believers into gathered communities to share Christ’s love and participate in God’s mission to the world. The New Testament gives testimony to God’s activity through these gathered communities to call people to faith and make a difference for God’s Kingdom. We believe that Christian discipleship is not a solitary endeavor. The role of congregations in calling believers to faith, nurturing and sending them into the world is crucial. We believe that together, with believers everywhere, we are the Body of Christ. (I Cor. 12: 12-31)Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Thomas Merton in comments on how Western Christianity almost abandoned contemplation in favor of dualistic thinking and its own strange form of “rational” thought, which actually produced fundamentalism in both its Catholic and Protestant forms.
The contemplative mind has not been systematically taught in the West for the last five hundred years. The Spanish Carmelites Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) and John of the Cross (1542-1591) were the last well-known teachers of contemplative awareness in European thought. With the so-called “Enlightenment” and the argumentative Reformation, Western Christianity almost abandoned contemplation in favor of dualistic thinking and its own strange form of “rational” thought, which actually produced fundamentalism in both its Catholic and Protestant forms. Thomas Merton (1915-1968) felt that even the monasteries no longer taught the contemplative mind in any systematic way, as monks just “said prayers” with their old dualistic minds. Without contemplation, there is not much depth or interiority to Christianity. It is just beliefs and belonging systems. That is probably why the Reformation was so necessary. Unfortunately, reacting to unjust or unhealthy systems with only dualistic thinking will produce more of the same.The authority of Jesus, Son of God, to act in our lives is a faith foundation that develops hope in the work of the Body of Christ to be Charity to all.
References
(n.d.). 1 Samuel, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/1
(n.d.). Mark, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/1
(n.d.). Creighton's Online Ministries Home Page. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions ...about Presbyterian Beliefs. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from http://www.pghpresbytery.org/about_us/pdfs/faqs.pdf
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/
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