THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS IN HIS WORD AND TEACHING.

A NEW TEACHING WITH AUTHORITY. 

"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." (Mark 1: 21 - 28).

The people of Nazareth noticed something exceptional about Jesus the first time He walked into the synagogue as a public figure, a Rabbi.  Their eyes were transfixed on Him as He applied Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah to Himself.

On another 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."  (Mark 1: 21 - 22).

On this occasion, Jesus cast out the demon from a man possessed by an unclean spirit which made the people exclaim: “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

Jesus taught with the authority of Moses and all the prophets combined plus something different: "A new teaching with authority."  (Mark 1: 27). The people did not fail to notice His authority. "It is said [in the law] but I teach this..."

Jesus taught with authority during His public ministry.  He is still teaching  with authority today through the Church.  It is ridiculous  to imagine that Jesus founded a Church without giving the Church real authority to teach.  "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”  (Luke 10: 16). Can you imagine the Supreme Court of the United States without authority to legislate? 

The name of this authority  is the Magisterium.  It comes from the Latin word magister, which means "teacher."  The divine teaching role of the Church stands on 3-legged stool:

#1  Sacred Scriptures

#2  Sacred Tradition

#3  Magisterium

Like the 3-legged stool, each of the legs need each other to support the superstructure.  The teachings of the Magisterium cannot contradict Sacred Scriptures or Sacred Tradition and vice-versa.

Thank You Jesus for making Your Church "the pillar and foundation of truth." (1 Timothy 3: 15).

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

THE NAME OF JESUS IS AN EFFECTIVE WEAPON IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. USE IT. 

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

THE FEAST OF ST HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.

FEAST OF ST HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH 

They abandoned everything and followed Jesus. 

THE GOSPEL:

"After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

"As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

"He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him." (Mark 1: 14 - 20).

Monday 13th January 2025 in the 1st Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. (315 - 368). French. 

Why is France called the eldest daughter of the Church? Look at the dates of St Hilary and you will see why. Before 315 AD, the Church hierarchy already existed in France.

Hilary is remembered in history especially for these reasons:

#1. Hilary helped us understand and profess the Divinity of Jesus Christ. This is contained in the Nicene Creed.

#2.  He worked to undermine the Arian heresy which had plagued the Church for a long time.

#3. Hilary developed an authoritative doctrine on the Holy Trinity.

#4. He helped the Church understand the deeper significance of the Incarnation.

Hilary understood that bad theology inevitably leads to heresy. 

Great quote from St Hilary. 

“There is no space where God is not; space does not exist apart from Him. He is in heaven, in hell, beyond the seas; dwelling in all things and enveloping all. Thus He embraces and is embraced by, the universe, confined to no part of it but pervading all.” (St Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church). 

In the Gospel of today, the very first word Jesus uttered in the mission field of Galilee is very important and significant:

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

"The time of fulfillment" or the fullness of time will be sure to catch the attention of any religious Jew. This is why. Every prophecy comes to birth in the fullness of time. 

Does the proclamation of Jesus in today's Gospel has the same urgency for us now as the audience of Jesus in the first century AD? Absolutely sure. 

In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read: "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart."

In the fullness of time, Jesus came to Galilee and called four of His first disciples. They heard the Call and left everything and followed Jesus at once. Because it is the fullness of time.

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

“To holy people the very name of Jesus is a name to feed upon, a name to transport. His name can raise the dead and transfigure and beautify the living.”(St John Henry Newman (1801-1890). 

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1