Today, we hear how Jesus spoke with
authority to the crowds, as Jesus himself was the Word of God made flesh. He was even able to command the demons to
obey him. This Gospel reading prompts us to ask ourselves if we approach the
word of God and the teachings of Jesus with the same zeal and eagerness as the
man with the unclean spirit who cried out to Jesus as he recognized Jesus'
authority. If we approach God’s word
and God’s authority with that same eagerness, loyalty, and enthusiasm, we are
in a much better position to learn what God has to teach us in his holy
word.
It is still relatively close to the
start of the new year, with a lot of us looking at ways to improve our lives
and to look at our lives of faith in a fresh, new way. On New Year’s Day, Riley Manning, the
religion reporter for our Tupelo newspaper, asked me how I would advise someone
who wanted to read the Bible more this new year. I mentioned the daily devotionals that we
have in the Catholic faith, such as Give Us This Day, The Word Among Us, and
The Magnificat. Going by our daily
readings is a wonderful way to follow the Word of God throughout the year. I remember how one of my seminary professors
advised us that rather than trying to read through chapters and chapters of
Scripture at one time, it is best to break ti up in pieces that we reflect upon
and digest. The important thing is to
read God’s word and to have it make an affect on our lives.
May Jesus speak us as one with
authority through his Holy Word just as he spoke to the crowds. May we allow
his Word to mold us and guide us.
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