What is there about his word?
Published Aug 30, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
The people of Capernaum are astonished because Jesus teaches them with authority (Greek exousia). “Authority” here refers to Jesus’ power to proclaim the Word of God that not only reveals, but commands and effects its message. Jesus’ word has the power (dunamis) to command the demon to come out of the man. Jesus brings the Gospel of freedom and liberation from sin and its effects (sickness that leads to death), not just physically but also spiritually. The Lucan theme of liberation rings throughout his Gospel the concept of “release” (aphesis is an oft-repeated word)—the release of captives, release from sickness, release from sin, and release from evil spirits. God’s power at work in Jesus was entrusted to the Apostles and now to the Church. The Church, in the name of Jesus, protects the believer from the Evil One and withdraws the person from his dominion through exorcism. “Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority, which Jesus entrusted to his Church” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1673).
First Reading • 1 Cor 2:10b-16
Brothers and sisters: The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. 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. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.
Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Gospel • Lk 4:31-37
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. 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.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
The people of Capernaum are astonished because Jesus teaches them with authority (Greek exousia). “Authority” here refers to Jesus’ power to proclaim the Word of God that not only reveals, but commands and effects its message. Jesus’ word has the power (dunamis) to command the demon to come out of the man. Jesus brings the Gospel of freedom and liberation from sin and its effects (sickness that leads to death), not just physically but also spiritually. The Lucan theme of liberation rings throughout his Gospel the concept of “release” (aphesis is an oft-repeated word)—the release of captives, release from sickness, release from sin, and release from evil spirits. God’s power at work in Jesus was entrusted to the Apostles and now to the Church. The Church, in the name of Jesus, protects the believer from the Evil One and withdraws the person from his dominion through exorcism. “Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority, which Jesus entrusted to his Church” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1673).
First Reading • 1 Cor 2:10b-16
Brothers and sisters: The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. 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. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.
Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Gospel • Lk 4:31-37
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. 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.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.