Jesus Speaks With Authority: Do You Hear Him?

The appointed Gospel reading for the daily prayer of the Church is taken from the Gospel according to Luke where we read:

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! 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.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, ‘What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!’ And a report about him began to reach every place in the region. (Lk. 4:31-37).

Jesus speaks with authority.  The word “authority” is derived from the Latin word “auctoritas”, meaning “invention”, “advice”, “opinion”, “influence”, or “command”.  Jesus speaks with influence and command.  This was a fresh and new approach.  None of the religious leaders of the day spoke with authority.  Jesus’ authority was personal; he did not receive authority from another source.  Jesus spoke with authority because through Him all things were made; He is none other than the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God.  Do you and I allow Jesus to have authority in our lives?  Do we submit to Jesus’ authority?

Let us pray:  Gracious God, You sent Your only Son to be a light to the nations, to guide us to reach Your heavenly throne.  Send Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the voice of Your Son, Jesus, that we nay listen to His commands and follow His voice always.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Adult Christian Education: The Resurrection by Bishop N.T. Wright. Join us at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings as we explore the ideas of the afterlife in the ancient world, what people during the time of Christ believed, what the reality of the Resurrection means for us as Christians.

Community Garden Meeting on Saturday, 20 April 2013: the next garden meeting between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. We'll have potluck at noon, and try to get updates and do some planning for the garden. I sent in the form to be on the Clean Galveston Backyard Garden Tour on June 1 and 2.

3^rd Annual St. Augustine’s BBQ, Saturday, 27 April 2013. Here is a link to the Houston Press’s article about the upcoming event: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2013/04/celebrity_pitmaster_neil_bigmi.php

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially, Lou, Virginia, Hal, Hazel, and all of the bombings on Boston.

 

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550