With "authority"

"The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes."

Mark 1:22

 

This is so interesting to me today.  As I prayed with it, I wondered what that "authority" looked like.  I read back a few days in Richard Rohr and he says that Jesus specifically taught with scriptures that were inclusive, emphasizing mercy and honesty.  That was a marked change from the scribes as they taught more exclusively and in a more "you're in, you're out" way.  Jesus was reaching out to those on the fringe and scooping them in.  The man with the unclean spirit in this Gospel would have been shunned and avoided by those in charge, ushered to the door and bid never to return. But Jesus  reaches out, heals him and restores him.  On Pray-As-You-Go, they point out that Jesus backs up his teaching with actions, which is another way of showing authority.  Not just empty words come from Jesus, but words AND a demonstration of how it's done.  So what about us on our winter Tuesday? Are our words inclusive? Do we speak with mercy, honesty and reach out to all? Are our words supported by our actions? Do we walk the talk? Let's ask for the grace to say yes!  Love, heidi