Our Credibility is Christ

Homily for September 2, 2019 | Divine Word Seminary

INTRODUCTION

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Today we will hear Jesus speaking with authority in driving away unclean spirit. His Authority is power not for destruction, but a power for restoration. His authority has opened a new path where we can place ourselves before God to pray and receive the blessings promised to Abraham.

A man we celebrate today is a man of authority, Gregory the Great, pope and Doctor of the Church has used his influence and power in his writings about the Eucharist and the Divine Office. At the top of it all, he introduced a culture in the liturgy known today as Gregorian chant. He is the patron of singers and of musicians, and a true advocate for the poor and downtrodden.

Let us acknowledge our sins, and prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

HOMILY

In the proclamation of Jesus, he did not quote authority other than the Father. He didn’t say “Be silent and come out of him in the name of…” He is the authority unto himself, and this authority is born out of his

1). being a Son of God or consubstantiality with God, but of

2). his experience of God and

3) His life.

In our Gospel, this authority is made evident in 2 things:

1). his words and

2). His driving out of demons.

The demons knew he is the Christ, and they knew he had authority over them. The story articulates his ministry of preaching and healing. Paul in our first reading mounts the ministry of Jesus as salvific, and pictures him as the hope of future glory.

We religious, find our credibility to be prophets who preach the Word of God and the values of the Kingdom, in Christ. Our credibility is Christ. Therefore, Our eligibility and power to lead and administer Christian communities; be it parishes, BECs, schools, and the very tasks and apostolates we hold as scholastics/seminarians no less, is Jesus Christ.

If then Christ is our primordial competency to be preachers of the Word, we have to be connected with Him, and be faithful with the source. In doing so, no amount of fear or despair or intimidation would obliterate our resolve, would hinder our ministry and mission, would obscure our preaching if our authority in carrying them out is Christ himself; that is if we do everything in Christ for the service of others.

Authority and power presuppose relationship and so they must end up in service. Service is Power. Self-emptying is power. Our power is Christ Crucified, a power which is perfected in weakness, and not of arrogance and pride. A power recognised by demons and expels demons.

And if at all we merit to become witnesses, if by choice we become personifications of the values of the Kingdom which we preach and live as religious, [the values of love, freedom, faithfulness, justice and service] all come from the goodness of God through Jesus Christ.

As we proceed with this celebration, let us be resolved that there is no better way to be in communion with Christ than in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is in the Eucharist that we receive Jesus, whose life we seek to follow, and upon whose authority we vow to hold ourselves forever. Amen.