In the gospel reading of Sunday’s Lectionary, Jesus taught ‘as one having authority, and not as the scribes’. What gives someone authority? Training? – Jesus as a rabbi would’ve had some. But so did the scribes. Using other sources, as essay-writers are always supposed to do? Jesus knew his scriptures, but so did the scribes. It just sounds right? But so, in many people’s ears, do conspiracy theories. It’s what I wanted to hear? Not everybody wanted to hear what Jesus said – good news for the poor is not good news for everyone – though you could say Jesus meets everyone at their point of poverty. He had a deep manly voice? Obvious nonsense – but you’d be amazed how much it matters for some people. What he does fits what he says? – That’s more like it. Obvs, we (and probably Jesus’ listeners) see his authority as coming ultimately from God, but I’m thinking more about how this works with the evidence of our eyes and ears.
The weather here is quite quiet at the minute, ideal for splashing along the muddy Trail.