When Jesus taught in the synagogue, the people saw a difference between him and their religious leaders. The difference is described as “having authority.” How does one teach with authority? What exactly is that? In the gospel it’s a teaching that has a positive effect in people’s lives, that makes a difference in how people live and in how they see their relationship with God.
Jesus’ cure of the man with an unclean spirit was an indication that Jesus’ words carry the power, the authority, to change one’s life. We could ask ourself the question, ” Who do I give authority to in my life? Who speaks the truth to me? Where do I get my inspiration and guiding principles?
Many people today give authority to what they read online, regardless of the source. Many are taken in by conspiracy theories and fear anyone who is different. Experts in a given area are disbelieved and distrusted. Truth becomes personal opinion or what is most convenient in the moment.
We are called to turn to Jesus as our authority, as the one who points the way to the fulness of life, to the realization of God’s reign on earth. As he tells us, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.”
“What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)
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Jesus liked to preach about authority, and counting or measuring.
I find my life runs much more smoothly when I can “turn authority upside down” by detaching from those things that used to bind me to this world (e.g. money, best ideas, popularity, getting my way, etc.) and when I “stop measuring” and keeping score (e.g. having the most points, the most money, the best college, extravagant vacations, etc.).
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“Falling upward,” as Rohr would say.
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