1 Samuel 4:1-11
Mark 1:40-45
Mark from the beginning of the Gospel offers us an insight into what the mission of Christ is. Jesus demonstrates himself as the suffering servant who has come to give lasting remedy for body and soul; he desires salvation for all humanity. We see that willingness to heal in today’s Gospel. He took pity on him and said “Of course, I want to” and the leprosy left at once and he was cured. Jesus further instructed him to go and show himself to the priest who will verify that he is clean and can now be reinstated to his family and community. But he did otherwise and in his own absolute joy, he started telling people that it was Jesus that healed him (even an obedient fellow can testify to the Good News). We can begin to see the willingness of Jesus to heal us too inside out because all authority belongs to Him.
His authority comes out of his “exousia,” a Greek word that means out of his own essence, his own being. In other words, Jesus taught with a powerful divine, God-driven authority, and not like the scribes who gained their authority from previous, respected scholars and teachers in their interpretation of the Torah. God has authority over all. Not seeking God’s power and will would lead to one’s own perdition. Samuel would always listen whereas the sons of Eli; Hophni and Phinehas carried the ark of the Lord to the war camp without consulting God, they were killed on the battlefield. It is good in everything to ask God for his will to be done and his help before making a decision. Even in matters of moments where we feel we can quickly make a quick decision or cannot figure the way out. All authority belongs to God let him take control.
Fr Joseph Osho
