Saint Teresa of Calcutta
The Authority of Jesus' Word
Jesus is God and Psalm 33:6 clearly states that "By the Word of the LORD the heavens were made..." This shows the authority and the power that is in the word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. When Jesus came to the world, He used that same power to recreate a new those who were bound captives by different illnesses and demons and every kind of evil and its kingdom. This is why we see, in many instances in the Gospels, people are amazed at the words that came from his mouth.
In today's gospel Jesus heals a man and casts out the demon that possessed a man. Jesus had just encountered the wrath of many in His hometown of Nazareth, so He left there and traveled about 30 miles to Capernaum, a town just north of the Sea of Galilee. This was to become His new home during His public ministry. The reaction He received in Capernaum was much different than that which He received in Nazareth. As He taught in the Synagogue in Capernaum, a man with a demon came to Him, Jesus rebuked the demon and cast it out, and the people were amazed. Word spread about Jesus quickly. After this, Jesus performed many other miracles, and the people continued to be in awe of Him.
What impressed the people of Capernaum and other places where he went was the power and authority that was in his words. People naturally tended to believe and obey Jesus since his words and commands were so true and so good. It was believable when he declared himself to be the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Some people, like the Pharisees, could resist believing in him, but it took effort because to do so contradicted both the intellect and the heart. When there was an openness and continued contact, there would be eventual faith. In some cases, as with the first apostles, it happened quickly (The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, pp 37-51).
Jesus spoke the word of God as no one had spoken it before. When the Rabbis taught, they supported their statements with quotes from other authorities. The prophets spoke with delegated authority - Thus says the Lord. When Jesus spoke, he needed no authorities to back his statements. He was authority incarnate - the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even the demons obeyed. As St Cyril of Alexandira says, "The bystanders, witnesses of such great deeds, were astonished at the power of his word. He performed his miracles, without offering up a prayer, asking no one else at all for the power to accomplish them. Since he is the living and active Word of God the Father, by whom all things exist, and in whom all things are, in his own person he crushed Satan and closed the profane mouth of impure demons. [Commentary on Luke, Homily 12].
Jesus always wants and will always long to exercise the power of his word in our lives to cast away all demons and evil forces that are holding us captives. What sin or temptation or demon do you want Jesus to rebuke from your life? From what oppression do you want Him to set you free? Our invitation today is to realise that we are possessed by demons, recognising which demons are possessing us and ask Jesus to heal and deliver us. Reflect today on this Gospel and ask for Jesus' healing through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us Pray.
Lord Jesus, I accept that the world and I myself are possessed by demons in one way or the other and I realise the need to be delivered. Send upon us your Holy Spirit to deliver us from the powers and chains of Satan and all its messengers. Amen
Be blessed.
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