Jesus spoke and acted with authority and power.

"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."
(Luke 4:31-37).

Tuesday 31st August 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

In today's Gospel, people were amazed that Jesus spoke with authority. Authority means power. Jesus quotes no teacher or scholar to back His teaching. Unlike the rabbis or their modern cousins who constantly quote doctors and experts. Jesus simply says: "I Jesus tell you..."

What is authority? Authority means power. The word dynamite is derived from power. Listen to Jesus in the promise of the Gift of the Father in Acts 1: 8. "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes." Only then can you bear witness to Me and do My work. The Holy Spirit power is critical to witnessing and evangelization.

The Holy Spirit is therefore the Spirit of power above every other attribute. The miracles of Jesus which are the works of Jesus like in the Gospel of today are works of authority or power. The words of Jesus in the Gospel are words of authority or power. The words or sayings of Jesus are authoritative. That means they produce at once what they say. The miracle itself or works of wonders clarify the words of Jesus. In Jesus, words and actions form a mysterious unity.  "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19: 10). Whatever Jesus says must happen!

We the Baptized do not have the spirit of fear. Many of us act in fear as if possessed by the spirit of fear. In Baptism, we receive the Spirit of power. This is the Spirit that marks the children of God the Father and not the spirit of cowardice, which is evil and impure spirit.

How then do we activate the Holy Spirit in our lives? Faith acting through Prayer is the Activator of the Holy Spirit. Mary says: "I believe what you have told me. Now let it be done to me according to your promise." (Cf Luke 1: 37 - 38).
Following this declaration of Mary, Jesus became instantly incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus says in IN SINU JESU:
"Be faithful to her Rosary. It is the shield and sword of spiritual combat. It assures your victory over the powers of darkness. Why? Because it is a humble prayer, a prayer that binds the soul who prays it to the victory of My Mother over the ancient serpent." (IN SINU JESU page 59).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com