Astounded

June 11, 2023 - August 13, 2023

In the season of Pentecost, we contemplate the life and teachings of Jesus on a slower pace than the race from Advent to Easter allowed. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, the narrator reports that “when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” The next several chapters of Matthew’s gospel demonstrate and unpack what exactly that “authority” looked like.

These readings track with the Revised Common Lectionary, but as usual at Galileo we’re reading more of the text over a longer period than the RCL, looking for the continuity of the narrative and building our case just like Matthew did.

Junia’s dedication. Jesus’s authority is exercised in compassion for centurions (Roman soldiers! gasp!), slaves (not “servants” as the translations have it), and mother-in-laws. These people don’t really “count” in the economy of religious privilege, but they matter very much to him.

Jesus isn’t “nice.” Jesus has an unnerving sense of self that does not require him to seek favor even from those who are his friends and followers. His mission is clear; he’s rather short with anybody who doesn’t get it.

Jesus can free you from whatever binds you – and that’s fucking terrifying. This liberating power he has is nothing to sneeze at, and why does it make them beg him to leave? Maybe because free people are scarier to the status quo than when they were bound?

Jesus and sinners. 

Jesus and religious law.

Jesus won’t boss his way in, though.

Jesus gives lots of chances, until he doesn’t.

Again, with religious law – didn’t we just do that? Why so soon again?

His authority doesn’t look like you think it should.