And he spoke with authority 4 th Sunday of the year

-

On the first week of May this country will go to the polls to vote for who we wish to have in power over the next five years. It is something that we should all take seriously. We should try and make an informed decision in conscience. If you are like me you may have already got sick and tired of the rhetoric and spin that comes with the General election. But, why do we not listen to politicians any more or if we do we listen to it with a small pinch of salt.

When we listen to today’s Gospel we can see that the people listened to Jesus. Why? The answer comes in the opening of the Gospel “And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.” We all strive to listen to people who speak with authority and something that is new. Jesus spoke something that was new. He preaching spoke to them because unlike the modern day Politian his words and actions ran parallel with each other.

What happens then when we listen to this new authority this new teaching? Well the first thing is that our life is transformed. We can learn from Jesus teaching how to live and how to act in the world. But, often our hearts are hardened from Jesus teaching. The challenge of the Gospel is to open our hearts to receive this radical new teaching.


We almost hear new things every day so what makes Jesus teaching special. Well Jesus was able to speak with authority because it is God himself speaking to us. And when God speaks we should listen. It is Good news it is something that is new. Our response is not just passive listening but active listening to God. The Gospel has the power to transform our lives if we allow the authority and teaching of Jesus to penetrate and soften our hearts. 

“Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts” 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fashion tips for what its worth.

-
Image
The Other day I had an Conversation with someone about Fashion. I am not sure if many of you know but I used to work in Top shop in Oxford Circus. So I thought I woulds share with you some of the trend that might look good for the Summer of 2012.  First of all I am really pleased to say that there seems to be a little colour back into the high street this season. This must be because of the bad weather that people want to wear bold and primary colours. Although I am not sure about the hat in the lower picture. Am I old fashioned enough to say that hats and woolen hats should be winter wear and not summer wear. Fresh and clean colours are in this year.   Good but loose the hat. The black and grey days are over and we can see that these are both stylish from the ladies but also a Casual look from the lads. But there are some fashions that are clearly wrong and should be left alone. See the Green Jumper down below. I don't really know where to ...
Read more

More than many Sparrows

-
A number of years ago I worked in Oxford Street in Top shop. I was working in the exchange and refund department. I was suprized by the amount of people that used fashion to hide who they really were. The one thing that they would say quite a lot was that they shopped and brought clothes to make them selves feel better. Now this is not a homily against retail therapy or against fashion shops but I have to say I met a lot of people that used this and other things to get over the pain that they did not either like themselves and therefore feel love of another person.  It is true to say that there are many times in our lives where we are afraid to be our true authentic selves. We hide behind the masks that we portray. We are one thing to one person and another to someone else. We try our best and hardest to try and please everyone where we almost become like a camelion. I suppose the question I have is why do we do this. Why do we waste so much energy trying to be all things to a...
Read more

Jesus and Travel plans

-
Image
Whenever I go away on holiday or just over night I always without fail over pack: I take loads of stuff away with me and half the stuff I don’t actually use or need. In my mind I have the phrase going through my head “Oh I might just need that.” And then when we get back we actually realised that I did not need it at all.  Basically I do not travel light. I would have then great difficulties I think being a disciple. I would not be able to cope with the travel plans that Jesus would have given me. No spare tunic no, no money, no travel insurance.  Jesus tells us that all we need his authority and the gift of ourselves the talents and gifts that we have been given by God. Mark says nothing in this Gospel about what the disciples said in their missionary activity the most important thing here is presence and through that presence they are witnesses to the Gospel. So what do the disciples tells us about what it means to be Gospel. The phrase that comes into my mind ...
Read more