Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Thessalonians 5:1-6.9-11; Luke 4:31-37)
Yesterday the Gospel of Luke was introduced into the daily
mass readings. It will be used in
weekday masses until Advent. Two
characteristics of the Lukan Jesus are that he is always moving and that he
speaks with authority. Yesterday the
report of his activities was from Nazareth.
Today it comes from Capernaum.
Tomorrow it will see him leaving for other towns.
The second characteristic is found in the other gospels as
well. Jesus does not cite other rabbis
but makes definitive comments on the Scripture himself. In today’s reading his words manifest
authority in that demons obey them. His
charge that the demons come out of the possessed man sends them immediately away.
Such a display of authority should provoke repentance and
faith in Jesus. The people, however, are
only filled with amazement. Let us not
be so slow to respond favorably. Jesus
is here to save us from sin and death.
We should not be shy about acknowledging him as Lord and praying to him
for our every need.
