13 January 2015 - the author's authority

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

It is no ordinary teaching because the teacher is not ordinary. This teacher is the one crowned with glory and honor. This teacher has all things subjected under his feet. What difference does it make if a teaching has authority or not? Aren't we all so rational that we just weigh arguments on their own merits and except or reject them? Nope. And we know it, don't we? If that were the case the truth, as Aquinas tells us, would be known "only by a few, after a long time, and with the admixture of many errors". We are just like everyone else who "became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened" (cf. Rom. 1:21). Since we faileto use our minds as they are intended they no longer work as perfectly as we'd like. We suffer concupiscence, "an inclination to evil" (cf. CCC 406) that affects both mind and will.

So we need a teacher who can, with his very teaching, cast the darkness from our minds and shine his own light.

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

Let him speak this word to us this morning. This is why only the word of Jesus is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword (cf. Heb. 4:12). This is why he is the only one who teaches with authority. This is why no other words have the power of his words. It is why no one speaks as he does (cf. Joh. 7:46).

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

This is wonderful. But the scary part is that we are invited to share in this authority. 

in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates
and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them "brothers"

He tastes death for us so that he can lift us up. He gives us the rule over the works of his hand that he intends us to have since the fall of Adam and Eve. We squander it then so he wins it for us in a new way in more perfect way. So, since he is mindful of mortal man and cares for us, since he makes us little less than gods and crowns us with glory and honor, since he puts all of creation at our feet, we must use this authority to do one thing. There is only one proclamation that truly matter. There is only one truth that sets free. It is his name.

I will proclaim your name to my brethren,
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.