Reflection for Sunday January 31, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:21-28

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he 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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Reflection:

Do you know how to maximize the power of your authority? 

Parents have a built-in authority over their children. However over the course of time this authority tends to wane until it lost its effect. This happens most especially when the parents are irresponsible in exercising it. For example if parents do not lead by example, if parents do not do what they say and if they don’t know how to impose discipline on their children.    

Perhaps, each and everyone of us have that hidden desire to exercise authority. Who wouldn’t want to take control of people?  Who wouldn’t want power and influence? 

Yet, when we don’t know how to properly exercise authority it is also like a time bomb that may explode on our face and destroy us. So how should we use authority? We must use it with temperance, gentleness and with humility. We must not abuse it or use it for power tripping and arrogance. 

Jesus did not only speak with authority, He also used it with temperance and humility.  He never abused nor used it for power/ego tripping and arrogance. Jesus knew that He had power and dominion over everyone but He never used it for selfish and arrogant reasons. He instead used His authority to gently heal those who were wounded to humbly guide those who were misguided and to give hope to those who were losing hope.  

Do you use your authority as the Lord used it? – Marino J. Dasmarinas