The Feast of St Peter and St Paul, Apostles and Martyrs – 24th June 2018

His teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority

Gospel

People experienced a difference in the way Jesus taught. He did not speak down to them. He did not lay burdens on them. He practiced what he preached.

It is easy to imagine the people thinking, ‘Yes, this man knows our situation. He speaks as one of us.’ Jesus knew what it was like to be poor and merciful, knew the struggle to be a peacemaker and to be pure in heart and to keep on trusting God when times were tough.

His teaching was different also in that it encouraged people to believe in themselves. That is a feature of good authority