Breaking the Word – Page 2337 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

23.02.11 JESUS IS FOR ALL

Posted under Reflections on February 22nd, 2011 by

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. (Mk 9:38-40)

Does Jesus belong to a privileged few (so called disciples) or he is for all. Same way one can argue about the name of Jesus, whether it is for a group only or is it for all. Through this episode the author is trying to argue an important point fellowship in following Jesus. Does one become inclusive or exclusive in following Jesus?

John takes the privileged position and asks for exclusivity. In fact the disciples have the same attitude. Even among themselves they were arguing to find out who was the greatest or who would get the privileged position to sit on the right or left of Jesus at the kingdom etc.

John’s attitude affects many people. Jesus or his name is a gift of God offered to the whole humanity or to the whole universe. No one should be prevented to claim the name of Jesus. Jesus is for all. And those who are for Jesus will always belong to him.

22.02.11 REVELATION

Posted under Reflections on February 21st, 2011 by

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist,others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:13-19)

The Jews of Jesus’ time expected a messiah. God would send an anointed one who would spearhead the movement of freedom from oppression and bring justice and peace to all. Nobody knew when and where this anointed would be born. There were many theories about him. Many saw him as a warrior king. Some saw him as one who would purify the temple and establish true worship. Still others believed that he would fulfil scriptures and bring God’s kingdom on earth.

The reply of the disciples tells us a good deal about the way Jesus was perceived by the people at large. The people did not perceive him as a gentle, mild and meek person who was going around comforting the people and blessing the children who were playing around him. He was perceived to be one of the prophets of either recent times (John the Baptist) or of the past (Jeremiah). These prophets, fearlessly, spoke against the wicked and were speaking God’s word to the people.

But the true knowledge of who Jesus was given only through revelation and this revelation was from god himself. As we say, faith is a gift of God, so also the right knowledge about Jesus is also a gift. Once this knowledge is give from God then neither this world nor the netherworld would have any power over that person. God’s revelation is perfect and nothing created would have any power over it.