Homily for Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel, a man possessed by an unclean demon loudly confronted Jesus, asking, "What have you come to do with us? Have you come to destroy us?" Jesus did not shy away from this aggressive encounter, nor did He respond with hostility. Instead, He addressed the demon directly and brought healing and peace to the man.

Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus often refrains from reacting in kind to those who oppose Him; yet, He never backs down. The Lord interacts with us in a manner that differs significantly from how we typically relate to Him. His approach is consistently more generous, loving, and merciful than our responses to Him and to each other.

When the people in the synagogue witnessed Jesus' interaction with the troubled man, they were astonished by His authority and the power He wielded over unclean spirits. Jesus demonstrates His authority through love and kindness to those in need, regardless of whether they have any claim to it. In this way, He exemplifies what actual authority looks like.

Let us pray that Jesus' example inspires us to approach one another with love, mercy, and a genuine desire for understanding and peace.