How do we
interpret God’s message?
When Moses
delivers God’s law to the people of Israel in the Book of Deuteronomy, it is
clear that the people, fearing to hear God’s voice directly, desire a mediator,
a go-between who can transmit God’s word to them. God is willing to establish a prophet among
them, on one condition: to him shall you listen, God says. Psalm 95 will remind the people that, if today they hear his voice, they are not to harden
their hearts – rather, they are
to kneel before the Lord in worship.
When God’s word is transmitted by a trustworthy voice, the word becomes
a source of joy and thanksgiving.
In Mark’s Gospel,
Jesus teaches in the synagogue in Capernaum, and the people are astonished at his teaching, for he teaches them as one
having authority. Jesus is not only
transmitting God’s word, he is God’s
Word, the Word made flesh. His authority
comes from within his very person, and so he commands the attention of all who
are present to him. Even the unclean spirit inhabiting a local man
recognizes Jesus and his authority: I know who you are – the Holy One of God!
The issues facing
the people of Israel continue to press upon us today. How do we authentically interpret God’s
message in the context of our own time?
How do we know if our understanding of the word of God is the true
one? And once we acknowledge it as true,
how do we make it a part of our own identity:
how do we ensure that it is at the core of our being, the center of our
self, the depth of who we are as individuals and as a community? Paul has one suggestion for the
Corinthians: adherence to the Lord without distraction. Only when we listen first to God, focused on that eternal love that is to be ours, can
we be sure that God’s Word is at work in us, living and true.
This post is based
on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
No comments:
Post a Comment