“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread* throughout the whole region.” (Luke 4:14)
In commenting upon these verses from today’s Mass Readings, Origen of Alexandria writes:
“First of all, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days.” When Jesus was being tempted by the devil, the word spirit is put down twice without any qualification since the Lord still had to struggle against him. See what is written about the Spirit emphatically and carefully, after he had fought and had overcame the three temptations that Scripture mentions. The passage says, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit.” “Power” has been added, because he had trodden down the dragon and conquered the tempter in hand-to-hand combat. So “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to the land of Galilee, and reports about him went out to the whole surrounding region. He was teaching in their synagogues, and was glorified by all.” (Homilies on the Gospel of Luke, 32)
O God,
Who by the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son
wondrously began for Your people
the work of redemption,
grant, we pray, to Your servants
such firmness of faith,
that by His guidance
they may attain the glorious prize You
have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Who by the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son
wondrously began for Your people
the work of redemption,
grant, we pray, to Your servants
such firmness of faith,
that by His guidance
they may attain the glorious prize You
have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!
