A Message from our Rector for the

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

 Deuteronomy 18:15-20         Psalm 111          I Corinthian 7:29-31           Mark 1:21-28

 In the Gospel reading, we see crowds amazed by Jesus authority. This is the case when He teaches; He speaks as if He had the same authority as the Bible—both being the word of God. He then casts an unclean spirit, demon, out of a man possessed, and the crowd marvels at His authority even over evil and demonic powers. In the next chapter of Mark's Gospel, Jesus forgives the sins of a paralysed man, and the crowd notes his authority to forgive—authority usually attributed only to God Himself.

 The word 'authority' comes from the root word 'author'. One who writes the book defines the plot, creates the characters, and has “authority” over what they say and do. God is the author of life itself, as well as of every individual life. Do we give Him this authority in recognizing Him as God? When we do, our lives are in fact defined by His goodness, love, and providence. He is able to bless us when we allow Him authority in our lives by obeying Him. God created us as people, free to make decisions, not as puppets whose strings He pulls. We choose to allow Him to be the author of our lives, or not.

 But if we are convinced of His authority, to the extent that we ask Him to rule our lives, He is able to lead us in the paths of righteousness, because we follow. Think in terms of logic. Jesus is exactly who He claims to be (and who the Bible stories indicate Him to be) OR He is totally deluded OR He is absolutely evil. He (and the Bible) may simply be wrong about Jesus Christ (deluded), or He may have intentionally led people astray from God (evil). Unless we are ready to rule Jesus out as deluded or evil, we must take Him very seriously. He claims to be, and is clearly presented to be, the Son of God, with the full authority of God Himself. In reading these stories and seeing God in Jesus Christ, may we like the crowds, be in awe of His authority, grant Him that authority by offering ourselves in humble obedient service, and thereby allow Him to bless our lives by leading us in the paths that are best for us.

 Grace and Peace be with you.

The Reverend Canon Dwight L. Brown, Rector