One way to determine if Jesus is the Christ of God is to examine His authority over evil spirits–not the ghosts and goblins of Halloween, but the clear and present manifestation of evil in our world–demons.
There are three types of demonic appearances characterized by the Catholic Church: oppression, infestation and possession.
Jesus, the High Priest and the Christ, not only healed many but also exorcised demonic presences throughout His public life–and He still does today.
Like curing ailments, exorcism is also considered a healing ministry–not of the body, but of the soul.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), a demon is a fallen angel who, like humans, possess an intellect and a will (Summa Theologica, QQ. 50-64).
Therefore only someone with authority given to him by God has the power to cast it out.
How is Jesus different?
Jewish rabbis must have casted out demonic presences before Jesus came along, so how was He different?
Jesus was different in that He did not call upon the names of Moses or Aaron or any other of God’s intercessors.
Most importantly, the glaringly obvious difference that infuriated the high priests the most was that Jesus also did not call upon the name of God.
According to the Law of Moses, this constituted a serious offence of blasphemy, which merited the death penalty.
Shocked and horrified by this grave moral offense and infringement of God’s (and their) authority, they reacted in anger: ‘Who did He think He was?‘
For instance, on the occasion of the possessed man in the Capernaum synagogue, Mark recorded in his Gospel that Jesus simply commanded the demon(s) to “Be quiet!” and “Come out of him!” (Mark 1:25, JB).
What happened next?
Mark recorded the demon(s) obeyed and came out of the man immediately.
This clear evidence of His unprecedented authority over the demon(s) indicates the primacy of Jesus.
No high priest was able to exorcise the demon(s) as effectively before He came along.
In fact, no human being has the sole authority to exorcise any demon unless he were acting in the Person of Christ Himself–or rather, unless Christ were acting in him.
How then, does the Rite of Exorcism carry on today?
Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which has been passed down through the Catholic Church in an unbroken line from Jesus’ original disciples.
We know this because Jesus gave this same authority to His disciples when He sent them two-by-two to heal people and cast out demons (Matt 10:1).
Does hierarchy mean control?
Some would argue against the authority of the Catholic Church, saying it is a means of maintaining power and control over its members.
How often does one see the Catholic Church or its ecclesial leaders using coercion, violence or economical oppression in order to “force” converts (“Become Christian or else…”) or to retain the allegiance of its members (Stay Christian or else…)?
The Church is a mirror of its Master, Jesus Christ, and rather than an administration of control, it is instead a custodian of justice and mercy.
Like the heavenly realm of the angels–whose nine choirs exist to bring about God’s plan for saving humanity–the leaders in the Church are supposed to be the servants.
The higher his level in the hierarchy, the greater his service is required to support ordinary folks on their journeys to God (see Luke 12:48).
Christianity is different
Unlike other world religions, Christianity is not merely an adherence to a set of principles, morals or teachings.
It is set apart from the others in that it is marked by authentic love, the kind that speaks to the human heart, regardless of ethnicity, race, social class, age or sex.
It is this transcendent love that is recognized by its compassion and service to others, even if it means undergoing personal suffering.
It is a love that puts the other first, and seeks to live in union with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, for Christians, Christ is not only their supreme example, but also their Friend and Beloved.
They know it is true that those who love others, God lives in them and loves through them (1 John 4:16).
Authority means…service?
Therefore, Christ did not found a Church organized with a hierarchy (with the disciples being the first bishops) as a means of control.
The word, “bishop” comes from the Greek, episkopos, which means “one that watches”, “one that looks after”, a “guardian and “protector”.
Rather, Jesus set His leaders apart to do as He did–to care for the people. Why else would He have taught them:
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant” (Mark 10:42-43)?
Jesus put these words into action on Holy Thursday–the last night He spent with His disciples–by washing the dust off their feet (usually the servants would do this job) (see John 13:5-17).
And He made it clear to His followers after His resurrection by commanding Peter (the first Pope and leader among His bishops) to:
“Feed My lambs“, “tend My sheep”, and “feed My sheep“ (John 21:15-17).
By this Jesus meant, ‘Take care of My people’.
This means, Jesus unites the ecclesial action of His Church-on-Earth’s leadership specifically with a service of love.
This was a new concept in the ancient world–and indeed to humanity–where servitude and enslavement were considered the norm in every society around the globe.
Therefore, the Church Jesus founded (The Catholic Church) reflects His authority when it teaches moral dogmas and when its ordained ecclesial leadership performs actions in the Person of Christ (In persona Christi).
For instance, just as Jesus, the High Priest, drove out demons on His own authority, His Catholic priests also share in His authority to drive out demons.
Just as Jesus had the authority to forgive the paralytic of his sins (Mark 2:5), the priests in the Church also have the authority to forgive sins (see John 20:21-23).
And just as Jesus healed all kinds of ailments and restored others’ faith and trust in the power of God, so do members of His Church share in His miraculous healing powers today.
“The Good Shepherd”
Jesus’ command for His Bishops to care for His “sheep” matches perfectly with one of the few names of which Jesus referred to Himself: “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:11).
In a way, this title sums up the whole of His identity as God, who gave His life for us, His “sheep”.
He made the primacy of His Godhead and the founding of His Church clear, saying that no matter who we are or where we live, there will only be “…one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16).
Therefore, like the prayer Jesus uttered on Holy Thursday, may we all be one (John 17:21-22), May Christians all belong to His one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church–which will continue His ministry on earth until the end of time.
Amen.