What Is There About His Word?
Gospel Reflection for Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 - Luke 4:31-37
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 quickly answer their own question “for with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.”
Authority. Power.
Two words that make us uneasy in today’s world. We like to believe we hold authority and power over our lives. We don’t want to surrender it nor admit that we have so little control.
We cling to power in the choices we make. 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 face to face with the reality of God’s authority and power over all that we know. And 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?” Then we must ask ourselves — how will I choose to respond to His word in my life 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 Daily Mass. Thank Him for His gift of the Eucharist, and then go out into the world sharing the Good News.
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.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!