Gospel Reading for September 02, 2025 – Luke 4: 31-37
WITH AUTHORITY
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.
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Jesus did not only teach with authority, but acted WITH AUTHORITY. There are no clear accounts of someone in the Old Testament who cast out demons even if there was mention of evil spirits then. Even John the Baptist did not cast out demons. But because Jesus is the Son of God, he could cast out demons, and others such as the apostles and followers of Jesus, or those who are endowed with such gift, then and up to now, are able to cast out demons only in Jesus’ name.
Indeed, the name of Jesus is so powerful and we would benefit a lot if we have a devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, the feast of which we celebrate on the 3rd of January. As a matter of fact, in the Catholic liturgical calendar, the month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.
“ . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 10-11)
When we feel we are in imminent danger or when we are in the midst of evil, we can always pray: HOLY NAME OF JESUS, SAVE US!
