Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 1, 2026
Jesus 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,
“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.
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
What does it mean to speak with true authority? This time of year is filled with newness and change, whether it’s the start of a new school year, a return to busy fall schedules, or simply the opportunity each new month brings to begin again. When we step into seasons of change, whose authority do we rely on—our own or Christ’s authority at work within us?
Last year, my husband and I welcomed our first child and are blessed to be expecting our second later this year. As a relatively new mom, each day seems filled with firsts. Stepping into motherhood has brought a new identity, disrupted routines, and shifted priorities. As I watch my daughter reach new milestones, like learning to crawl, speak, or take her first steps, they are celebrated moments of growth that offer a sense of joy hard to fully capture with words. Simultaneously, however, each new stage is a gentle reminder that the last phase is now in the past.
Change touches every season of life. Each new day offers the opportunity for growth, yet change is often uncertain and even frightening. So, when we step into times of change, do we speak with an authority that commands our values and faith, even when the path ahead feels uncertain, or only when it’s comfortable? The fearlessness and curiosity of my daughter reminds me that despite the inherent uncertainty that new experiences and transitions bring, change is met with abundant joy because Christ is always making us anew.
Let’s pray today for a strengthened faith to surrender the demons in our lives, any fears, bad habits, addictions, anxieties, avoidances, and to enter each new day with confidence that Christ has given us the grace to reject whatever holds us back from him.
Prayer
Holy One of God, your word carries authority and healing power. You speak, and the unclean spirits flee; you teach, and hearts are set free. May your voice resound in our own lives—in our preaching, our teaching, our families, and our service. In Holy Cross we have learned to trust in your authority, not our own. Speak through us, Lord, that others may come to know your peace and proclaim your name with joy. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Anna the Prophetess appears very briefly in the Gospel of Luke—she received the young child, Jesus, when Mary and Joseph brought him to the Temple to be dedicated to the Lord.
According to Jewish law, parents were to present each male child to the Lord by offering sacrifice in the Temple in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple, and were greeted there by Simeon, who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the messiah (Lk 2:25-26).
After Mary and Joseph and Jesus met Simeon, they encountered Anna:
“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem” (Lk 2:36-38)
This exhausts our knowledge of Anna, but even this brief description tells us what is most important about her. Unlike Simeon, who knew he would find the messiah, Anna simply recognized the Lord. After decades and decades in the Temple, seeing people coming and going with their sacrifices every day, she had the vision to recognize that one young couple and their child were unlike any of the others.
What gave her that ability to see—to recognize the divine in the midst of the ordinary? All we know is that she fasted and prayed—she cultivated a close relationship with God. She knew God—she was familiar with God because she spoke with God every day. And that familiarity opened her eyes to recognizing God’s presence in situations outside of prayer. The same is true for us—a habit of prayer opens our eyes to recognize God’s presence in the rest of our life experience.
Relics of St. Anna the Prophetess rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Anna the Prophetess, of the thousands of people you saw in the Temple, you instantly recognized Jesus—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Anna the Prophetess is in the public domain. Last accessed April 3, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
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