Homily for 28 January 2024 by Fr. Oscarito Antonio Boongaling
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The theme of authority dominates our readings for this Sunday. Definition of authority – the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience given by a higher authority. In the spiritual realm, authority does not come by striving or making great efforts to achieve or obtain something. It is a gift entrusted by God to someone he believes could potentially share his vision.
In the first reading, the Israelites desired for a prophet who would represent them before God and lead them on the path towards life. Through Moses, God fulfills his promise: “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren.” (Deut. 18:18a) But the authority of this prophet does not come from his own self or abilities. Because God says, “And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” (v. 18b) The prophet has authority that he is responsible and accountable to God for, because if he “presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.” (v. 20)
In the Gospel, people immediately recognized that Jesus was a unique teacher compared to the religious authorities and scribes during that time. They did not practice what they preached and avoided those they have judged to be rejected by the Law. The words of Jesus had the power to move the hearts of those he taught and encountered. This is because of his intimate relationship with the Father. “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (Mark 1:11).” Jesus was a living witness to the truth of the Father’s love. He showed this by how he welcomed sinners and outcasts, how he healed the sick and freed the man possessed by an unclean spirit. His authority is not power that oppresses, judges, condemns or labels people. His authority, rooted in the Father’s love, empowers people to love and serve. His authority causes a great impact on people he encounters.
Two of the people whose authority had greatly influenced me were my maternal grandparents. They each had opposite personalities and characters – my grandfather was the recluse, quiet type who was content just reading his books the whole day, undisturbed by noise and distraction of the world around him. My grandmother was very much involved with people (relatives, neighbors, strangers, fellow churchgoers). She was generous and offered help to those in need. She formed in the Catholic faith. My grandparents loved me, they cared for me, they recognized my uniqueness as their grandson, they were always there for me, their authority was grounded in love. Whenever I felt rejected or doubted myself, they always pointed out my worth in their eyes. They never demanded that I love and respect them. It came natural for me. I never questioned their authority, I never rebelled against them even if we did not agree with many things they believed in. They shaped me to be the person that I am today.
Brothers and sisters, each of us here is a recipient and instrument of God’s authority. May we use this gift not to control or manipulate the lives of others but to help build and change their lives and empower them to seek what God desires for them. May our Lord liberate us from what hinders us from becoming the person God wants us to be. And may our responsorial psalm guide us in responding to God’s word: if today we hear his voice, let us not harden our hearts.
