Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath, he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “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, “Quiet! Come out of him! ”The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. ”His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
REFLEC TION
All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. ”His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Have you heard a speech or homily that inspired you? Why?
Was it the content of the homily that grabbed your attention? Or was it the confidence and authority of the speaker? Maybe it was both the words and the presence of the speaker that affected you.
There was a priest who gave a homily about the the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38. The point of the homily was Mary of Nazareth lowered herself and said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word." Mary was in love with God and she wanted to do everything for Him. She wanted to do His Will. Mary wanted to build God's family. That verse in Luke tells that Mary opens herself so heaven can enter into her. FAMILY, the PAPA acronym, meaning Focus All Mine In Loving You is how Mary cooperated with God by accepting His Will.
These words were from the heart of the priest. It touched my heart and all those listening.
Jesus was just beginning his ministry and went to Capernaum. The first place he went to was the synagogue on the Sabbath. He read the Scriptures and taught with "authority." His Words touched the hearts of those listening because those Words came from the Logos Himself, Jesus Christ.
They were "amazed"! Why? A carpenter's son spoke with more authority than the scribes. This was an unexpected contradiction. Yet, they were profoundly affected
more by his teaching than by his exorcism of the man with the unclean spirit.
Tomorrow is a chance to study God's Word taught from the Biblical context by a theologian, Father Michael J. Truongluan Nguyen, C.Ss.R..atPAPA FACE ZBS.
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