Saint Gregory The Great, Pope, Doctor

1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Psalm 144(145):8-14
Luke 4:31-37

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS IS ABOVE ALL THINGS

Christ needed no ritual incantations. With a simple command, He frees the sufferer from the evil spirit. “Be silent. Come out of him!’ It was this effortless control over the supernatural sphere which astonished the crowds. He was clearly on a far superior level from the demon He cast out. He had authority of a new and irresistible kind.

More so, the gospel passage underlines his compassion for the suffering but highlights that his primary motive was to reveal the truth about God’s kingly rule. The text further emphasizes that Jesus’s arrival marked the challenging of dark forces and the eventual victory over evil through his crucifixion and resurrection.

Moreover, it notes the ongoing spiritual battle, with temptations and sin representing the final skirmishes. Despite Satan’s attempts, the text asserts that his rebellion is ultimately futile, especially considering the countless souls redeemed by Christ. It also highlights the healing miracles in the gospels as evidence of God’s supremacy over the rebellion.

The passage concludes by pointing to the Church and the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, and the Anointing of the Sick as the contemporary manifestations of God’s victory over rebellion. These sacraments are portrayed as facilitating the restoration of grace, absolution of sins, and the transformation of life, representing the ongoing victory over evil forces.

Overall, we are encouraged to completely surrender to the authority of the Lord and unwavering trust in his commands, presenting a compelling narrative of spiritual victory and divine authority.

Fr Joseph Osho