The book of Deuteronomy is composed as a sermon by Moses. Israel is about to enter the Promised Land and Moses is like a revivalist preacher reminding the people what they have been through and warning them to keep faith in God. The hard journey is over and the land of milk and honey is going to be cushy in comparison. The people won’t need the daily manna God fed them as they traveled through the desert. They are liable then to forget how their daily survival relied totally on God. More — their sense of intimacy with God may become a thing of the past. Isn’t that the same for us? When we are going through a crisis our prayers increase and our awareness of our need of God grows more intense. Then, when we have passed through our desert things go back to “normal” and God seems to take a backseat in our awareness. Other issues press in on us so we turn our attention elsewhere.
Moses is preaching to his people on the banks of the Jordan. They have received the Law from his hands at Sinai (5:3). As we hear Moses speak to the people we are not hearing some old, long-past sermon to another people in a different world. His words are addressed now to us — the church, the new Israel. The Israelites were a chosen people always in need of reform — just like us.
Today’s passage is from the central section of Deuteronomy. It continues “statutes and ordinances” that will govern the Israelites once they have entered the Promised Land. But Moses will not make the crossing with them; something that has always puzzled biblical readers. The people have relied on Moses for so long, what will they do without him? He was their mediator, the voice of God to them. Without Moses, God’s friend and intimate, will God forget them in the next stage of their lives?
Through Moses God makes a promise to the Israelites. It seems that in one way or another, God was always renewing the covenant with them. God promises to provide another prophet like Moses who will be the people’s go-between with God. They will never be on their own; there will always be a mouthpiece speaking to them for God. Who will this spokesperson for God be? It isn’t necessarily one person. God could be promising that there will always be someone to fill Moses’ prophetic role who will not be self-appointed, but will be chosen and raised up by God. The message they have will not be from themselves, but will come from God.
How can you tell a true prophet from a false one? Perhaps only time will tell. But a true prophet will be dependent on God and have the well being of the community as his/her goal.
Imagine the building excitement among the people when Jesus arrived. They had waited long for someone, the one Moses promised, a voice of authority, speaking on God’s behalf. Jesus is in the synagogue teaching “as one having authority.” Unlike the scribes, who relied for their authority on the teachings of their predecessors and would begin by saying, “As Moses says,” Jesus said, “But I say to you.” People noted the difference. Something new was happening, someone had come to them manifesting his own authority. As a sign of his authority Jesus addresses the unclean spirit and drives it out.
Signs of the presence of an evil spirit in a synagogue would have been reason to cast out the person from the assembly. Jesus doesn’t expel the man, instead he utters a word and drives out the spirit. The evil that had disrupted the man’s life and frightened the community has been driven out by “the Holy One of God,” — i.e. someone in special relationship with God. God is the source of this good work.
In a small synagogue, in an insignificant town, a cosmic struggle is playing itself out. In that world and in the greater world, evil has seized control and no one is able to do anything about it. Enter Jesus — “The Holy One of God.” He confronts the indomitable evil and takes charge of the situation. The people’s response is an echo of what Israel longed for after Moses. “All were amazed and asked one another, ‘Who is this?’ A new teaching with authority.”
At this point Jesus won’t let the spirit name him. It’s not about who Jesus is, but it’s his authority. We will have to wait to see how the gospel develops to learn more about who Jesus is. But for now, the fame of this man, who has a “new teaching with authority,” is spreading throughout Galilee.
It isn’t hard to find evidence of evil in the world. Politicians claiming our votes promise to deal with crime, violence, drugs, war, etc. It’s also hard not to become cynical. Even if their intentions were the best still, humans suffer at the hands of powerful forces. Doesn’t it seem like evil is winning and even our best efforts are not enough? “Demonic” is an appropriate description of the situation.
Then, one enters who is not intimidated when he confronts the powers of evil. Jesus shows that he is exercising the very power of God. We can be the beneficiaries of this good force Jesus has set loose in the world. He frees us so we can accept the reign of God’s presence that comes with him. There were other exorcists in Jesus’ time. That is not what made him unique in people’s eyes. What make Mark’s account unique is how he links Jesus’ exorcisms with his teaching.
Mark frequently refers to Jesus as a teacher. The “teacher” stills the storm (4:38); raises Jairus’ daughter (5:35); feeds the crowd (6:34), etc. Unlike Matthew, Mark doesn’t spell out what Jesus taught. He focuses on the power behind Jesus’ teaching.
John the Baptist predicted that, “One more powerful than I is to come after me” (1:7). Evil powers are at work in the world’: which abuse the innocent; divide communities; encourage materialism; widen the gap between the rich and the poor; stir up religious fanaticism; enslave young people to drugs, etc. Finally Jesus, the “one more powerful,” comes with a word of life: uniting people estranged from one another; raising up peacemakers ready to sacrifice their lives; forgiving sins; healing diseases; stirring people to work for the well-being of creation; restoring broken families and communities. Mark tells us he does this and other great works of power by the authority of his teaching.
Throughout Mark’s gospel Jesus will attract huge crowds because of his authoritative healings. People were in danger of perishing and Jesus came to instruct and lead them to safety. He continued to do that even at the cost of his own life. At this point of the gospel the people are amazed by Jesus. Their amazement must become more than awe and fascination. They will need to discover him as the Son of God and put their faith in him. After his resurrection Jesus’ disciples will realize he wasn’t only a powerful prophet who spoke with authority, but was the personal presence of God in their midst. No wonder when he spoke things happened and people were amazed by his authority.
A little examination of conscience. Who speaks to us with authority? Whose words, guide our spirits and direct our energies? Is it the voice of Pope Francis who expresses concern for the poor, the persecuted and the environment? Do we turn to spiritual guides in our reading? How much sway over us have political parties, blogs and editorials?
Jesus’ word has authority over the evil influences in our world, so where and to whom do we go to hear that word? Does our parish have Bible classes, retreat days, book discussions and religious instruction? When it comes down to it we are responsible to form our conscience according to God’s authoritative word — but who and what helps us do that? The power of evil is very alive and active and only God’s power can help us overcome its many manifestations.