The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. – Mark 1:22

      Growing up, I never saw myself as somebody whom people could learn from. I wasn’t the type to speak on stage and stay in the limelight. I did have a desire to speak when I was much younger, but my fears and doubts got the better of me.

       I was a high school sophomore in University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu when I was chosen to be part of the teaching program which assigned excellent students to teach for one week on behalf of the teachers.

       My teachers saw something in me, and that pushed me to look into myself. That’s when I saw my potential. I was chosen to join that program every year until I finished high school. My teachers saw the best in me, that’s why I saw the best in myself.

       Twenty years later, I am the builder of The Feast SM City - Cebu on Mondays and Saturdays. I give glory to God for sending me people who believed in me. Because of them, I believed in myself, and I never looked back. Stephen I. Nellas (sinfts@yahoo.com)

Reflect: God believes in you more than anyone in the world. He who placed gifts in you knows your full potential.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our great Teacher and Master. You are our guide and leader. Help us to identify the greatness in us and to use this greatness to bless the world. Amen.

St. Adrian of Canterbury, pray for us.

Hannah lives a life of shame and suffering because she is barren. In the temple, she begs God to give her a child and she promises to offer the child to Him. A life dedicated to God’s service is a good and worthy thing. Sadly, there is a lack of vocations in the Church today because young men and women are not encouraged to consider this as a way of life.

9 Hannah rose after one such meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the Lord; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. 10 In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping copiously, 11 and she made a vow, promising “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” 12 As she remained long at prayer before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth, 13 for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, 14 said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” 15 “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the Lord. 16 Do not think your handmaid a worthless woman; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” 17 Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast. 19 Early the next morning they worshipped before the Lord, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, the Lord remembered her. 20 She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the Lord for him.

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8 (or Psalm 116:12-13, 14-17, 18-19)

R: My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

1 My heart exults in the Lord, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory. (R) 4 The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength. 5 The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes. (R) 6 The Lord puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts. (R) 8 He raises the needy from the dust; from the dung heap he lifts up the poor, to seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. (R)

The power that Jesus showed in His ministry is more than what the people saw in the lives of other prophets. The prophetic tradition was dormant for 350 years until John the Baptist broke the silence and was the first voice since Malachi. The people had seen pretenders but Jesus was different – He left the people in awe and wonder. Let us be in awe of the powerful work that Jesus continues to do in us.

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.

21 Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

think: Have you given Jesus authority in your life? How much authority does He have?

Read the Bible in one year John 1-3

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________

TRUE AUTHORITY

COMES FROM COMPASSION

When we speak of authority, we equate it with power; hence, a person of authority is somebody who must be powerful. As such, we always see a person of authority as somebody way above us or different from ordinary folks, like government officials who command with power and influence. Our readings today show us a different concept of authority, its true meaning and source.

       “And when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching... They asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching — and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him’” (Mark 1:21-22, 27, NIV).

       Here we find the authority of Jesus is about power but in the positive sense. Instead of being separated from the people, it is an authority clearly with and for the people. People first noticed the way He taught in the synagogue. He must have spoken with conviction that left them astonished. But His words — and so are our own words — can only be authoritative when it is sincere. Jesus must have spoken of the people’s situation and concerns so well that they identified with Him. He spoke their language and was not detached from their realities. Most of all, His authority and power to cast out evil spirits was borne out of His love and compassion for the people, especially the sick and the poor. This is the important aspect we always forget about authority: that whatever power God has given us, be it at home, in the office, in the Church, or anywhere else, it is always for the service of the people. Authority can cause separation when there is a lack of compassion because people feel that those with authority are different from them. When it flows from compassion, people can identify with those in authority.

       Is your authority based on compassion such that people come to you? Or is it based on power that people are afraid of you? Fr. Nick Lalog

------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS -------

Are you a person of authority? How do you exercise it?

Lord Jesus Christ, give us always the grace to exercise our authority in a way that leads to communion and service. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________