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.
*
One day, in the synagogue in Capernaum, the people are surprised by something new: A new teaching with authority, with the unclean spirits subject to the command of Jesus. Here is the rabbi who does not depend on the famous teachers of Israel in his interpretation of the Mosaic law – and therefore the will of God.
Further on, he will even show himself greater than Moses. Jesus will be questioned, contradicted, and even accused of blasphemy by his detractors.
He will be condemned of leading the people astray. But there is no stopping the “good news” that Jesus brings. The words of Revelation can be said of Jesus at the start of his ministry: “Behold, I make all things new” (21:5).
“Ever ancient, ever new.” St. Augustine’s description of the supreme Beauty (God) is true of Jesus’ Gospel even in the third millennium. When you reflect on the Gospel, what new things do you discover?
*
SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
