12th January, TuesdayI. Heb 2: 5-12
II. Mk 1: 21-28
Theme: Jesus teaches with authority
The First Reading reminds us that GOD the Abba-Father allowed the Son to be lowered to the human state in order to raise humans to a higher, spiritual state through His suffering and death. The Gospel finds Jesus teaching with authority in a synagogue and healing an individual who is possessed by evil spirits. Jesus teaches the people in their synagogue and they were astonished. They were astonished for two reasons: First, they were astonished by His preaching. St. Mark says twice that Jesus speaks “with authority.” Jesus teaches with authority because He is both the Truth and the Good. He is the One who has the words of eternal life. He is the authority incarnate, the Word of God made flesh.
Second, the people were astonished at Him because of His healing. He heals those who are ill because of His compassion for them. He heals because He loves them. Jesus never stops loving us. He loves us but he will not force us to love him in return. He loves the sinner but hates the sin.
The final Good News is that Jesus has been given authority over everything, including evil and sin. GOD has given us the ability to make that choice. All of this, because GOD loves each and every human beyond what makes human sense. It is GOD’s wisdom. He can do the same in our lives if we put our total trust in Him. Let us praise GOD for doing such marvelous deeds for us.
Bro. Ruban SMM
II BTH