Lk 4:31-37
31Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, 32and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. 33In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, 34“Ha! 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!”
35Jesus 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. 36They 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.” 37And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
Reflection:
He spoke with authority. Jesus does not have a letter or decree from God investing him with the powers he needs. Jesus’ authority comes from the Father and from knowing what he is talking about. He believes in what he says and is convinced of what he believes in. In other words, Jesus is sincere. A person’s sincerity can disarm us. It can melt or shame us. Jesus is sincere in his teaching and his actions, in his love and his care for people, his passion and his intentions. Another word for authority is sincerity.
I once delivered what I believed was a good homily. A friend and her child approached me after Mass. The mother was all praise for my homily. Her child pulled me back to the ground when she innocently commented, “Oh Father, you sounded like you were just pulling our legs!” I knew what she meant. I was trying to impress people with my manner of giving a good homily. I forgot about being sincere.
Be true and sincere in whatever you do and say today.