(Dt 18:15-29; Ps 95; 1Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28). Please go through all the readings before the homily.
"All were amazed and asked one another, What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." Jesus is the newest prophet in town. His teaching is different from other prophets because his word has power even over unclean spirits. Today this may not be something new among many prophets and preachers. They too cast out devils in their churches and gatherings. Their power is not necessarily Godly yet they seek to be famous.
"His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee." Jesus became popular but not for his personal gain. He was not seeking any political mileage. Some of the prophets we have today eventually seek elective positions. The power of Jesus was from God his father. Speaking in the name of God and performing miracles is not equivalent to being God-sent. When miracles become the order of the day in any spiritual setting, we need to question that. Miracles are not planned nor done for the sake of attracting people. Jesus wanted to strengthen the faith of people especially those who didn't believe in him as the prophet of God. It was compassion which drew him to heal the sick, feed the hungry or raise the dead. Most of today's healing miracles are a big show and for self gratification. The more miracles are showcased the more offerings are expected and more followers fill the churches.
"But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die." God knows that there are people who impersonate him. He leaves us with this freedom while we assume the responsibility and consequences of our choices. Since the calling and mandate are very personal, it is hard to tell who has been called/sent or not. However from one's life we can through discernment discover the true from false prophets. The love for money, fame, forcing miracles, disconnect between the word of God and life; are indicators of false prophecy.
The first person to know this is the prophet him/herself. This aspect causes a spiritual death in that person. We can lie in many cases but impersonating to be God's prophets while we serve other gods is abomination. When the people of Israel requested for a prophet, God gave heed to them. "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him."
The prophets and spiritual leaders we have are our own brothers and sisters. This makes it easy and at the same time difficult to believe in their word. We know them well in their strong and weak points. But what they speak is not their word: it is God's own word. God can use any person he chooses to prophesy and deliver his message to his people. Whereas there maybe conflicts in the prophet's life; if what they communicate is God's message, then we are bound to listen.
"Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it." We therefore have no excuse when the word of God has been communicated to us. Everyone will carry their cross: the prophet if he pretends to speak in God's name and the listeners if they disobey the word communicated to them. The word of God is medicinal to everyone including the prophet. "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."
No one is free from anxieties. They may be more or less depending on the life and vocation. If the word of God finds place in our hearts we can serve God in any vocation. Priorities matter in the vocation and life we choose as Saint Paul tells us.
Let us then take advantage of the vocation we choose. As prophets, how best is this call bringing us closer to God? As married or single, to what advantage is this when it comes to adherence to worldly or godly matters? The challenges in the world have initiated debates or questioned celibacy, marriage for catholic priests, ordination for women, vow of poverty, regulation of religion etc. All these valid topics can only make sense if the individual person is convinced of his or her vocation and priorities amidst anxieties. Saint Paul's advise is "for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction." Our vocation can also become a "new teaching with authority," when we truly believe in the word of God.