Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
August 31, 2021
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 432
Reading I
Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.
When people are saying, “Peace and security,”
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.
For God did not destine us for wrath,
but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep
we may live together with him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up,
as indeed you do.
Responsorial Psalm
- (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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: JESUS' AUTHORITY AND POWER
Jesus goes to Capernaum and works his first miracle there. He left Nazareth, which was his home town as he is not accepted in his own place. Here lies a paradox. The unclean spirit recognized him as the Son of God and the people are astounded, but his own people at Nazareth fail to do that. Not just that, they even try to hurl him off the cliff. People in Capernaum respond with astonishment because Jesus speaks with authority and the demoniac is cured. By portraying Jesus as an exorcist, Luke shows that the day of the Lord is at hand. Jesus spoke with authority. Jesus was the author of what he said. The Rabbis in those days would quote others and begin their discourses by saying, “Rabbi so and so said...” They based their words on the authority of others to make it more forceful. But Jesus would say, “I say to you”. He is filled with the power and authority of the spirit and we can witness this when he silences the evil spirit. To speak with authority is to speak with sincerity. People were able to feel the authority of Jesus' teaching because Jesus spoke the message from God with authority and sincerity. Even the evil spirit was able to recognize the identity of Jesus. People in authority in our time may speak encouraging words and make big promises. Words that come to impress or to further personal interests will not bear any fruit.