Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's Gospel reveals the power of Jesus' name and the authority of his word. Both heal us, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, just like Jesus healed the man with the unclean spirit.
The people of Capernaum "were all amazed and said to one another, 'What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.'" Unfortunately, many in our world today do not believe in the name of Jesus nor that his word saves nor that He can heal us. It is as the Lord said to Jeremiah: "What fault did your ancestors find in me that they withdrew from me, Went after emptiness, and became empty themselves?" (2:5)
Thinking about it differently, what made then turn away from God and no longer believe in Him much less trust Him? Perhaps they have forgotten that we have not "received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God." So how do we lead others to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Saint Paul tells us to witness to them "not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit. . .". Relying on the Spirit of God, the name of Jesus, and the power of his authority to heal and transform lives.
. . .
Gospel of the Day
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,
and he cried out in a loud voice,
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.”
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
No comments:
Post a Comment