Tuesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel 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.

REFLECTION

He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.

The people were amazed because Jesus taught with authority. What did it mean to teach with authority?

Jesus had a different teaching style compared to other Rabbis. He used the Scriptures, the truth, and parables. The other Rabbis used other Rabbis as their references.*

Jesus didn't need to quote the other Rabbis concerning their interpretation of the Scriptures. He inspired the writers of the Scriptures. He is the Word. He is the Authority of the Torah.

Then a man in the crowd called 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 told the man, "Be quiet! Come out of him! Then the "unclean spirit" convulsed the man and obeyed Jesus' command immediately.

"What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."

No one even questioned that the demon called Jesus, "...the Holy One of God!"

According to Josephus, a Jewish historian of the 1st Century, he reported that there were practices and rituals used by holy men, one named Eleazar, whom he witnessed drive out demons. Even in the Old Testament there is mention of Solomon having power over spirits and again in the Old Testament in Tobit. **

The crowd in Capernaum was more impressed with the fact that Jesus could just say a word and demons would leave. There was no need for Jesus to perform an exorcism ritual.

Jesus was not like any Rabbi the people in Nazareth or Capernaum knew of or had heard about. He was "...the Holy One of God!" Did they wonder if He was the Messiah? Let us pray that we will be open to accepting Jesus' presence here with us now! Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist. We can be with Him every day. Let us pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to know and love Jesus more and bring others to know Him through us.

References

• * Bishop Robert Baron, Luke 4: 31-37 commentary on Sept. 3, 2024.

• * * https://wwwttschmidt.com/blog/exorcism-in-the-first-century-jewish-mind