Jesus then 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, "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!" 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.
Introductory Prayer: Lord,
you have looked with favor on me. You have seen in my soul fertile ground, and
you have sown your word in hope of an abundant harvest. I hope never to let you
down by not responding in faith. I allow you to lead me to the fullness of my
vocation as your disciple.
Petition: Christ, may zeal
for your friendship consume me so much that I remove all sin from my life.
1. Great Hopes: Jesus
had great plans for Capernaum –– a big city, situated by the lake on the “way
of the sea,” a thoroughfare open to travelers. It was an ideal hub from which
to spread the Gospel. Would anyone from such a big town have interest in his
message? Christ made his home there. He exercised the greater part of his
public ministry in Capernaum and graced it with more than one-third of his
miracles. It was quite different from Nazareth. Christ asks us to find our
Capernaum –– seeking that niche, using those talents, evangelizing that
audience — where we can become the most effective apostles for him. This may
demand a greater love from us, but we can see how Christ blesses this effort
with his presence, teaching and healing.
2. Simple Faith: Christ
chooses to cure a man on the Sabbath in Capernaum and nobody raises an eyebrow!
How different this is from Jerusalem! These people here have a simple faith,
unconcerned about the legalities of ritualistic orthodoxy. “Here I can preach.
Here I can heal. Here I can work!” Christ feels at home and welcomed. Here
Christ finds vocations: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew. Here Christ finds
faith even among the pagans: the centurion who asks for a cure. One can sense a
special predilection of Christ toward this city. From those who have been given
more, more will be expected.
3. Generosity Pushed to Its Limits: Once a soul responds in generosity, Christ opportunely draws it
to the fullness of its vocation. Encouraged by Capernaum’s faith, Christ asks
more of it; just as he asked of the rich young man. As we see later in the
Gospel, what better place than faith-filled Capernaum for Christ to reveal to
the world one of his most difficult teachings: presenting himself as the Living
Bread come down from heaven? In the end, the majority leave him. “Will you go
away too?” The present-day ruins of Capernaum testify to the truth of Christ’s
warning: “As for you, Capernaum, ‘Are you to be exalted to the skies? You shall
go down to the realm of death!’ If the miracles worked in you had taken place
in Sodom, it would be standing today. I assure you, it will go easier for Sodom
than for you on the Day of Judgment” (Matthew 11:23-4).
Conversation with Christ: Lord,
you know me and you know everything about me. Let me not become blinded by the
arrogance of my own opinions and ideas. Help me to keep you always before me as
the goal of my life, the pearl of great price, for which I joyfully sell all I
own to possess.
Resolution: I will use one of my talents to help somebody today.
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