In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ listeners are amazed by the power of His Word. After teaching them in the synagogue, they are “astonished” because He “spoke with authority.” After preaching with such power, He commands an unclean spirit out of a man, and His listeners again exclaim, “What is it about His word?”

We are surrounded today with advertisements, politicians, and media, all trying to get our attention with words. Whoever can say it best, in the least amount of characters, wins. 

But why were they astonished by Jesus? It was not His soundbites. He didn’t tickle their ears with what they wanted to hear. He wasn’t a savvy politician or a smooth-talking salesman.

The power in Jesus’ words was the power of Truth.

St. Dominic tirelessly preached this same Truth. As he set out to preach the Gospel against the Albigensian heresy, perhaps his mission seemed daunting at times. What effect can one man have in all of southern France? How could he be successful against the Albigensians, who had spread their errors so far and deep? 

Men and women were drawn to Dominic because his words were truth, and eventually Dominic founded the Order of Preachers to continue this work. They went out—and continue to go out—not with a message to tickle people’s ears, but with the Truth. 

And as for the power of Truth…When was the last time you met an Albigensian?

St. Dominic, Doctor of Truth, pray for us!