Jesus spoke a new teaching, and he spoke with authority.

Not being versed in the sacred texts of other world religions, I can only wonder: Do other scriptures present their own constituents as badly as the Old Testament does its chosen people? Even before the Israelite nation per se arrives on the scene, the cast of protagonists in the Bible desperately wants a course in ethics.

Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

I once worked in a place where the director hired a man named James to take over a successful program in the company. James came in like gangbusters. He had new ideas, and energy, and a strong desire to share what he believed with others. In addition to thoughts on his own projects, some of what James said implied dissatisfaction with programs that others led.

I was walking past a schoolyard yesterday and the kids were hanging out waiting for the bell to ring to start the school day. As kids will, some little third grader was taunting another one. She said, “Why should I listen to you? You’re just a dork.” 

One of the earliest pictures my brother took was of me back in 1955, a half century ago, dressed in my Hopalong Cassidy outfit with hat and six shooter and holster. I was kneeling as my brother Tony, an Indian, shoved a lance through my body. For a while I really wanted to be a cowboy. That was before I wanted to be a priest and after I wanted to be Captain Video.

In 1989, in the months leading up to the 40th anniversary of the communist regime in East Germany, a Lutheran pastor in the city of Leipzig began preaching at a peace vigil in the city’s Nicolaikirche. With every passing week, more people came to the vigil, and eventually attendance reached into the thousands.

My sisters and brothers, we pray to hear God's voice in our lives.

At the time appointed, Christ came forth from the Father and showed himself in this external word, first as its creator, then as its teacher, the revealer of secrets, the mediator . . . and the express image of his person.