Christian Art | Jesus Speaks As One Who Has Authority
Matthew 7: 21-29 – Week 12 Ordinary Time, Thursday (King James Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 ¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Today’s Bible reading is a lesson in practicality. Jesus tells us to be sure that our faith is an active, lived reality – that we not only hear Jesus’ words but that we do as he teaches us. It is when we live in this way that our faith has firm foundations, and so we can build and our house can last.
Faith, then, is far from being a denial of reality – indeed it is the opposite; it is a meeting with reality, and where we are at our most real. Jesus asks us to be careful that our faith be not a kind of escapism. We are to ask ourselves how we are doing as Christians.
We may perhaps imagine the person Jesus teaches us not to be, one who goes through life saying, ‘I am Christian,’ who may perhaps be very happy and often thinking of Jesus, yet who is not a light of the world, because action is missing. Where are the good fruits? Where is the good that is being done?
Our call, therefore, is to purposeful love. God is love. By being Christian, we try to be as close to pure love as we can be. This is the bedrock of our lives each day. ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I found my Church.’ In this sense, we are all like St Peter, asking Jesus to come to us, to be at home in our hearts, and praying that our way of life may indeed provide good foundations.
As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
Your bones shall flourish like the grass. (Isaiah 66
Concluding Prayer
Grant us, Lord God, a true knowledge of salvation,
so that, freed from fear and from the power of our foes,
we may serve you faithfully,
all the days of our life.
We make our prayer through our Lord.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes
Jesus Spoke As One Who Has Authority
Matthew 7:21-29 is a powerful passage illustrative of the authority of Jesus Christ as teacher and guide for our lives. Jesus speaks with a clarity and conviction that is truly remarkable, providing divine wisdom to guide our lives.
Jesus begins by warning his listeners that not everyone who claims to be his follower will enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus emphasizes the importance of not just professing our faith, but also living it out in our daily lives. This warning highlights the importance of a living faith and reminds us that our actions must reflect our beliefs.
Jesus warns against false prophets and emphasizes importance of strong spiritual foundation anchored in Jesus’ teachings. Jesus warns that even those who perform miracles in his name may not truly know him, and that we must be cautious of those who claim to speak for God. Jesus also emphasizes the importance of building our lives on a foundation of faith, warning of the catastrophic consequences of failing to do so.
The point is that Jesus in speaking with authority claims authorship with God. This is a scandal – a blasphemy. The scribes and the Pharisees recognize exactly what Jesus is claiming here – and indeed the devils know Jesus as the Son of God.
Throughout the Gospels, our simultaneous ignorance and dawning awareness of Jesus as the Son of God, as God the Son, is the central dynamic. This mystery attains its apogee in the scandal of the Cross and bleak despair of Holy Saturday – when God dies and is put into a tomb and, as the creed has it, descends to hell.
The Cross has yet to come, and yet is prefigured in these verses. Indeed, such verses as these provoke the Cross, as Jewish authorities conspire to arraign Jesus of blasphemy, and the imperial authority colludes to condemn a rabble-rousing agitator.
Jesus’ authority will become conditional upon this entire rejection by the spiritual and imperial powers of his time. God in this sense must become as nothing in order to be redemptive God.
God speaks with authority, and yet His utter rejection to ignominy and to hellish death is the condition of love and our salvation. In this sense, God requires His own failure in order to triumph.
The reading expresses Saint Ignatius’ faith in Jesus Christ as he was escorted to Rome for Christian martyrdom, to be torn apart by wild beasts in the Coliseum. One crucial point of the reading to take away is that Saint Ignatius expresses possible doubt in his own confidence to go through with his martyrdom with courage. He prays that his fellow Christians might support him through prayer to enable him to embrace his witness – his martyrdom – to Jesus Christ and to Christian faith [ … ]
John 4:13-14 (KJV) ‘Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ Introduction to the Life of Saint Bernadette Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a humble peasant girl from Lourdes, France, lived her life of faith, humility, and divine grace. Born on January 7, 1844, in the small town of Lourdes, Bernadette was the eldest of nine children in a poor and struggling family. Her father, François Soubirous, was a miller, and her mother, Louise, a laundress. The family lived in a former prison cell known as the Cachot, a damp and cramped space, according to their dire financial situation. Despite their poverty, the Soubirous family was deeply rooted in their Christian faith, a foundation that would profoundly shape Bernadette’s life and spiritual journey. Bernadette’s early years were marked by significant health challenges. She suffered from asthma and other respiratory ailments, which often left her weak and unable to attend school regularly. This lack of formal education meant that Bernadette struggled with reading and writing, and her understanding of Christian doctrine was limited. Nevertheless, she possessed a remarkable simplicity and purity of heart, qualities that would make her an ideal recipient of divine revelations. Bernadette’s life changed irrevocably on February 11, 1858, when she experienced the first of eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the grotto of Massabielle. On that cold winter day, Bernadette, her sister Toinette, and a friend were gathering firewood near the grotto when she heard a rustling sound and saw a beautiful lady dressed in white with a blue sash, holding a rosary. The lady, who later identified herself as the Immaculate Conception, appeared to Bernadette over the course of several months, delivering messages of penance, prayer, and the need for a chapel to be built at the site. Despite initial skepticism from her family and the local authorities, Bernadette remained steadfast in her account of the apparitions, enduring intense scrutiny and even ridicule. The apparitions drew enormous attention. Soon, people from all over France and beyond began to visit Lourdes, hoping to witness a miracle. One of the most significant messages conveyed by the Virgin Mary to Bernadette was the instruction to dig in the ground near the grotto, which led to the discovery of a spring. This spring, believed to have healing properties, became the focal point of the pilgrimage to Lourdes. Many miraculous healings have been attributed to the waters of Lourdes, reinforcing the belief in Bernadette’s visions and the sanctity of the site. As the apparitions concluded, Bernadette’s life took a different turn. In 1866, she joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, taking the name Sister Marie-Bernard. Her time in the convent was marked by continued poor health and humility, as she carried out menial tasks and lived a life of quiet service. Despite her physical suffering, Bernadette remained devout and accepted her hardships with grace, often repeating the phrase, “I am happier here in my little corner of the convent.” Her unwavering faith and dedication to her religious duties exemplified the depth of her spiritual commitment. Bernadette Soubirous passed away on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35, after a prolonged battle with tuberculosis. Her legacy, however, endured far beyond her earthly life. In 1933, she was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI, recognized for her humility, faith, and the miraculous events associated with her life. Today, millions of pilgrims flock to Lourdes each year, seeking spiritual renewal and physical healing at the site of her visions. Saint Bernadette’s life continues to inspire countless individuals around the world, reminding us of the power of faith, the virtue of humility, and the enduring presence of divine grace in our lives. To Visit Lourdes Visiting Lourdes, in the picturesque foothills of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, is an experience that transcends the physical journey, drawing pilgrims into a profound spiritual adventure. The small town, known for the Marian apparitions witnessed by Saint Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, has become one of the world’s most revered pilgrimage sites. As we approach the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the atmosphere is imbued with a palpable sense of reverence and anticipation. The grand basilicas, the tranquil Grotto of Massabielle and the gently flowing waters of the miraculous spring together create a sacred environment that invites reflection, prayer, and a deep connection with the divine. The focal point of any visit to Lourdes is the Grotto, where Bernadette experienced the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here, pilgrims can touch the rock face, light candles, and drink or bathe in the spring’s water, believed to possess healing properties. The profound silence and sense of sacredness at the Grotto allow visitors to contemplate their faith, seek solace and find spiritual renewal. The Rosary Basilica, with its mosaics, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, perched above the Grotto, offer spaces for communal worship and personal meditation. The nightly candlelight processions, where pilgrims from around the globe unite in prayer and song, highlight the universal bond of faith and hope that Lourdes represents. Beyond its physical beauty and historical significance, visiting Lourdes offers a deeply personal and transformative experience. Pilgrims often arrive burdened with ailments, grief, or spiritual crises, seeking comfort and miracles. The stories of healing and faith that emerge from Lourdes are testimonies to the enduring power of belief and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The communal aspect of the pilgrimage—sharing meals, prayers, and stories with fellow believers—fosters a sense of solidarity and mutual support. For many, the visit to Lourdes is a journey of healing, not only of the body but also of the soul, providing a renewed sense of purpose, peace, and spiritual clarity that lingers long after returning home. Prayer With Saint Bernadette Prayer for Intercession Dear […]
Psalm 115 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible presents a narrative that contrasts the living God of Israel with lifeless pagan idols. This psalm is part of the ‘Egyptian Hallel’ group, typically read during Passover, and reflects a time when the Israelites, despite facing mockery from neighboring peoples, reaffirm their faith in God [ … }
