"The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes." Those gathered in the synagogue where Jesus taught had never heard anything like this before. They were used to the preaching of the well-educated scribes, but Jesus possessed something that those men lacked: authority. Instead of merely interpreting the laws of the prophets, Jesus presented a new vision, indeed, he shared the good news of the Gospel with his listeners.

"The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes." Those gathered in the synagogue where Jesus taught had never heard anything like this before. They were used to the preaching of the well-educated scribes, but Jesus possessed something that those men lacked: authority. Instead of merely interpreting the laws of the prophets, Jesus presented a new vision, indeed, he shared the good news of the Gospel with his listeners.

"So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with thehired men and followed him." What did Zebedee thinkabout all of this? His sons and his partners, James and John,suddenly left their post and followed Jesus. So there hestood in the boat with a crew of employees, but not one ofhis sons. We can't help but wonder whether Zebedee was infavor of this promise that his heirs would become "fishers ofmen." Most likely, this event was the cause ofsome familialtension.

"Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." What a wonderful example the Magi give us in their visit to the infant Jesus.

First of all, they demonstrate profound faith in God's word, spoken through the prophet Micah: "And you, Bethlehem...from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel" (cf. 5:2). Embarking on a long and difficult journey, they trust that they will find this newborn king of the Jews in Bethlehem as the prophecy announced.