Homily for Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/090407.shtml

Today we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of our Archbishop, Joseph Naumann, the 4th Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas. Archbishop Naumann was originally ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, but for the last three years, he has been Archbishop of our Archdiocese. Archbishop Naumann ended his homily asking us to pray that he would be the shepherd that we deserve and that the Church needs. It is certainly a privilege for us to pray daily for this successor to the apostles, who has great responsibilities within our diocese. I trust that he has been given these responsibilities because of his courage, humility, and faith, which continue to bear fruit. To the one who has, more will be given, and he will become rich!
The people in today’s Gospel were amazed at the ‘authority’ of Jesus’ word. Indeed, late in the Gospel for today, they ask ‘What is there about his word?’. Pope Benedict XVI in his book Jesus of Nazareth has a beautiful section regarding the power of Jesus’ word. Jesus’ word is more powerful than that of the prophets who have gone before Him, because Jesus, like Moses, speaks to God face to face, as with a friend! Moses spoke with God as a friend intermittently, and saw God only as He passed by the cleft of the rock. Jesus, through His prayer and His divine relationship as Son, speaks to the Father continually, and always sees His face! The word He speaks is the word He receives from His Father. Thus it is unlike any word that has been spoken or that will be spoken afterward! Not surprisingly, this word that Jesus speaks has the power to cast out physical demons. More importantly, Jesus’ word, which is also his very life, came down from heaven to cast out the power of sin. Healing people of their physical demons gained Jesus interest from the crowds, but it was not for these miracles that Jesus was eventually crucified. No, it was His power over sin that led people to follow up their questions about the power of His word with questions about his true identity. For who but God alone can forgive sins?