True Authority! 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year B
Sermon and Christian Act In The Word
Theme: True Authority! Divine Authority! Connect your dots with the Divine Authority!
Point of Reflection: What authority has been given to me and how do I use it? Does my exercise of authority follow the guidelines laid down in today’s readings? Today’s readings focus on the theme of true God-given authority. Such authority lies behind the words and deeds of Moses, Paul and Jesus. Having received this authority, they were empowered to act as God’s servants and speak his word fearlessly. During our baptism, we have been empowered to play our prophetic role of teaching through our words and actions. In my actions and words, am I not a prophet of doom?
First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15–20
Psalm: Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32–35
Gospel: Mark 1:21–28
Sermon (Reflection): What makes us often fail in our life is that we do not connect the dots of our life with the Divinity. We need the divine authority for us to successfully succeed in our lives and this is manifested in our prophetic role we received during baptism.
The first reading of today reports the words of Moses speaking about the three fundamental characteristics of a true prophet of God. Firstly, Moses, himself a prophet, states that God chooses his prophet from among the people and sends the prophet to the people – “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people”. Secondly, God equips the prophet for the mission by the gift of God’s word – “I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet”. Finally, God communicates through the prophet, making this person’s words his own divine message – “…who shall speak to the people everything that I command”. As Christians, we need first to acknowledge that we are prophets by virtue of our baptism, second, we must be equipped with God’s Word in our hearts so that can attain true Authority, third, as Christians we must speak the truth about the Gospel and live by the truth.
The true prophet uses the authority given to him or her in complete accord with God’s purposes. This distinguishes true prophets from the false ones, who would use and abuse the prophetic dignity and authority, to promote themselves and pursue their own aims.
In the second reading of today, St Paul the apostle, the author of the letter to the Corinthians, stands undoubtedly as one of the most authoritative figures in early Christianity, unmatched in his apostolic zeal, writings, and teaching. Yet, the true source of his authority is not found in his own efforts but, by his own admission, in the encounter with the risen Lord who allowed him to understand his life and his Jewish faith from the perspective of Jesus’ resurrection (Cf. Gal 1:11-12). This experience transformed Paul into an ardent Christian missionary. In today’s passage, the apostle instructs the Corinthian Christians regarding those among them who are unmarried and those who are widowed. With the authority of Christ behind him, he exhorts believers to set straight their life priorities in the light of their final life goal, which he defines as an encounter with the returning risen Lord (Cf. 1 Cor 1:26.29.31). as Christians, we may ask ourselves, on whose authority are we living our life in our families and societies?
Reflecting on the ultimate fate of all believers, the apostle urges believers not to be overwhelmed by the concerns and anxieties of this world, especially not to be anxious about entering into marriage. He knows that the vocation of either married or unmarried Christians is to live a life of faith and love. There is no place for self-centredness in Christian life. An unmarried believer strives to please the Lord, so he or she remains undivided in their commitment to the Lord. Likewise, married believers must centre their life on the love and service of the Lord, in addition to extending the same love and commitment to their spouses. While serving the Lord and caring for a spouse are not two conflicting and untenable goals, Paul recommends the single life as one that allows for the complete and undivided focus on the Christian life of faith and duty. The whole meaning to the second reading of today is that we need undivided attention to the Lord. We need to serve the Lord with undivided attention either married or single.
In today’s Gospel, we hear about the narration of the very first public act of Jesus performed right after the calling of the first disciples, thus, an exorcism in the synagogue at Capernaum. Prior to this miracle, Mark notes that Jesus taught with authority and the crowds were amazed at his teaching (Cf. Mark 1:21-22). The same amazement came over those who witnessed the exorcism. Calling readers’ attention to this element of amazement, Mark intends to show that those who witnessed Jesus’ teaching and deeds recognized the divine authority at work through Jesus.
The location of the exorcism described is significant, thus, it took place in the synagogue. The word “synagogue” means simply “an assembly” or “a gathering”. At the time of Jesus, synagogues were buildings where local Jewish communities gathered to read the Scriptures, study, and Sabbath prayers. Unlike the Jerusalem Temple, which was the one and only place where sacrifices were offered, synagogues were numerous. Their leaders were ordinary laymen, and educational, judicial, and administrative activities carried on there were a part of the daily life of the Jewish people everywhere in the ancient world. By initiating his ministry in the synagogue, Jesus shows that God has entered the ordinary and daily life of his people. In the midst of this mundane life, Jesus’ divine authority would be manifested and confirmed.
St Mark notes that Jesus explained the Scriptures with absolute authority and cited no other human authorities or experts, as other Jewish scribes and teachers did. This means that the divine teaching authority rested in him, and needed no additional, external confirmation or affirmation. This manner of teaching differs from that of other Jewish religious leaders who, lacking the true authority from God, needed to rely on each other in interpreting the Scriptures.
Jesus’ acts of teaching and controlling demonic forces, hostile to God, and the people manifested his credibility as God’s Son and the Messiah. In our Christian life today, we have also some demons around us, we need to rebuke them. Never be afraid of rebuking the demons surrounding us. Most of our failed leaders is because they have been surrounded by demons and they do not have courage to rebuke them. Let us connect our dots with the divine authority.
Christian Act in Word of God “True Authority”
Today’s liturgy of the word discloses the essential features and foundations of true authority. The book of Deuteronomy teaches that true prophets use the divine authority correctly when they act in complete accordance with God’s purposes and not their own interest. St Paul in the second reading teaches with authority because of his experience of the Risen Lord, the power of God’s Spirit working in him, and his utter commitment to the cause of the Gospel. His authority comes from his connection to the Lord and his utter dedication to his apostolic mission. Jesus acts with the divine authority vested in him, showing its true purpose and intent. This divine authority enters the ordinary life of the ordinary people, for the purpose of guiding and liberating them from whatever distorts their humanity.
A Christian is a prophet. In Christ, we have been chosen and sent forth into the world as God’s Good News. We share not only in the priestly and kingly ministry of Jesus, but also his prophetic ministry and carry a timeless message which we deliver through word and action.
Broken hearts have been healed because someone spoke words that mend. Some people have abandoned the thought of suicide because a follower of Christ spoke about the love of God to them. There are testimonies of students who failed their exams and felt that life had come to an end, but then a Christian friend or brother spoke words of hope to them, thereby opening a new window of success in their lives. The “words” of Christians are changing lives and making a difference in the personal worlds of many people. This is so because it is not their words but the Word of God, which is alive and active in their utterances.
It is a contradiction to share in the prophetic ministry of Christ and yet, in our dealings and relationships with one another, speak words that do not come from God. When we insult, curse, gossip and spread rumours about people, we cease to function as prophets and our lives no longer become good news but bad news. When we use the authority we have received from God to manipulate or destroy others, we debase our prophetic presence we received during our baptism.
Action: with the Divine authority, I will rebuke all demons surrounding me.
Prayer: Eternal Father, we humbly come to you with our open hearts to empower us with your divine authority, as Jesus Christ your son rebuked the demons with your divine authority, may we also rebuke the things surrounding us which hinder us from loving each other, may we remove all evils of wars, corruption and evil-doing amidst us, may we all live in love and be better persons, we ask this through your son Jesus Christ, and may the Holy Spirit empower us, Amen.
- Prepare to Receive the Lord: 1st Sunday of Advent - November 28, 2025
- The Healer of Brokenness: Christ the King - November 21, 2025
- Waiting for the Return of Christ: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 14, 2025
