What is there about His word?
Gospel Reflection for Sept. 3rd, 2024 - Luke 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.
I read this Gospel reflection for today and immediately was struck by the reaction from the crowd “what is there about his word?” they marveled.
They answer their own question shortly after “for with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.”
Authority. Power.
These are words we are so uncomfortable with today. We don’t want to surrender our perceived authority over our own lives. Nor do we want to admit we truly have so little power over the world within which we live.
We don’t want to admit we are not in control, and our lives readily reflect that desire. From what we choose for breakfast, to how we drive to work, what podcasts we listen to, tv shows we enjoy, people we engage with, all or most of this we control daily. We have that authority in our lives, that power to dictate the course of our lives, every moment, every day.
So what happens when we acknowledge there is One who has the ultimate authority and power over us? One who can heal the blind, cast out demons, and raise the dead? How do we reconcile such power and authority over reality with our own understanding of the world?
Perhaps we find ourselves in not so different a position as those who witnessed the miracle of a demon being cast out with their own eyes - “what is there about his word?” and how will we choose to respond to His word in our lives today?
3 Quick ways to acknowledge Jesus’ authority in our lives:
Pray the Morning Offering
Pray a part of the Litany of Trust - “Jesus, I trust in you!”
Attend Mass. Thank Him for His gift of the Eucharist, and then go out into the world sharing the Good News.
The Holy Father needs our prayers greatly, and the Church needs to pray for him as Paul taught us. Then all will be blessed.
I need to put the Litany of trust in my daily prayer. Thank you 🙏