This week it is important that we read the First Reading and the gospel together. In the first reading we hear from the 18th. Chap of the book of Deuteronomy. This passage was very important for Jewish people of Israel. Moses is speaking to the people before they entered the Promised Land. He says: “Your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself, from among yourselves, to him you must listen” Moses was the most important person in OT history, he led the people out of slavery he received The Ten commandments, etc. He was the court of final appeal. For the people of this time, it seems that there is no other human more important than Moses. In this reading he is speaking about someone who is greater than himself and adds: I want you to listen to him. This was a conundrum for the people of that that time: who is Moses talking about? Now we flash forward to the gospel and we find one of the first public appearances of Jesus, he went to the synagogue in Capernaum. As we read in the gospel it wasn’t the content of what he said that baffles them it was the manner in which he spoke, he spoke with authority. Then something dramatic happens, a man with an unclean spirit comes in. The unclean spirit says: I know who you are, the Holy One of God. The people knew they were dealing with someone different here, but it was the demoniac that hit the nail on the head. This is the one who Moses predicted in chap 18 of the book of Deuteronomy. As the gospel ends up, they were all amazed, here is a teaching that is new and with authority behind it. What practically should we do: Listen to him, submit your life to him! There is a lot of talk today about taking care of our mind as well as taking care of our physical body. We like the demoniac are trying to come to terms with everything that we are bombarded with today. There are many voices that are vying for our attention out there today, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat. Instagram, the Internet, TV, etc. A lot of what we hear on these platforms cause a lot of anxiety, and despair and helplessness for all of us. The message in our readings today is very clear, we must listen to Jesus. If we listen to him, it will not change the external environement out there today but it will help us to allay our fears, reduce our anxiety and grant us some peace of mind. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.