Today Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Mark (1: 21-28) in which the people of Capernaum were amazed at Jesus’ teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Fr Paul says this story takes us a step further in showing the growing authority of Jesus, which is the theme of the early part of Mark’s Gospel. He has already called the disciples. He calls and they simply follow. It seems that he is a total stranger to them, yet with such authority that they drop everything to follow him.

Now in the synagogue Jesus teaches on his own authority. He does not quote the interpretations of others, as rabbinic teachers did, saying, ‘This Rabbi says this, that Rabbi says that’. No, Jesus teaches, ‘I say to you…’ He seems to be master even of the Law. But it is God’s Law. Only God has authority over it, so who does he think he is?

Then, to show just how authoritative his teaching is he calls out the unclean spirit. Despite the unclean spirit’s protest, ‘Have you come to destroy us?’ The unclean Spirit acknowledges that Jesus has a special link with God.

Fr Paul notes today’s Gospel Lesson – by living our lives like Christ we, too, can get others to follow him.