Today’s Gospel:  Luke 4:31-37

REFLECTION
The city of Capernaum stood on the banks of the lake, and since Nazareth was situated on the side of the hill, it was necessary for Jesus to go down to the city. Here, today’s Gospel narrates, Jesus was confronted by a man possessed of demons.

Within the synagogue at Nazareth was an unfortunate man whose being had been invaded by a demon. How, or when this took place we do not know. The outburst which came from the man’s mouth would hardly be the expression of someone suffering from a commonplace malady. Here there was recognition; here there was abject fear. The term “what have we to do with thee” might be best rendered, “What have we to fight about: We never did thee any harm.” The “we” of the text included all who belong to this realm of evil. There could not have been open defiance for even demons were afraid of Christ’s power. “Anekrazen” from “krazo” has the primary meaning of “to croak” (as with the cry of a crow). The encounter with Jesus temporarily robbed this demon of clear articulation. Dread seized him, but as he recovered, his cry was loud and desperate. His earthly domain was in jeopardy; One had arrived whose word could destroy him.

“And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about (vv. 35–37).”

Thus did Jesus commence His public ministry in the synagogues of Galilee. The completeness of His mastery over evil was manifest not only in His ability to expel the enemy but also in the fact that the expulsion revealed the powerlessness of the outgoing demon. We live in an age when retreating enemies become infamous for the scorched earth policies which devastate the territory they abandon. These demons were unable to hurt the afflicted man for Jesus completed that which He had gloriously commenced. The population had never seen a preacher to be compared with Him, and it was to be expected therefore that His fame would spread throughout the region.

Today’s Reading:  1 Cor 2:10b-16

PRAYER
Lord, rid society of all evil, whether manifest or influenced by it.  Show your power today as you did then.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.