Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” This lesson from Christ to his disciples in today’s Gospel really struck me. What power - to be able to rebuke unclean spirit! I imagine it was a pretty amazing feeling for the disciples to have unclean spirits listen to them - this could almost make the disciples feel powerful - dominant - overly important - in some way. But Jesus reminds them today not to let this “power” go to their head. They are not to rejoice that they have this gift but instead to rejoice because they have a place in heaven - they should not be focused on the worldly power and fame that this gift brings but rather focused on their relationship with God. It is because of God that they are able to perform these powers.
And we too are Christ’s disciples - so this lesson is for us as well. Last week I had a parishioner stop me to thank me for a reflection I had written a few weeks ago. I admit - it felt good to be acknowledged, to feel like I had made an impact and to see that my words were meaningful to someone. BUT as I continued to think about this woman’s comments I found myself taking great pride in MYSELF for my words. Then I sat down to read today’s readings and write this reflection - I found myself thinking back to this conversation and realizing that I was like the 72 disciples in this Gospel - I was rejoicing because my words had an impact - but truly this was not about me - I should be rejoicing that God used me to spread His word to others. He uses us all in countless ways to make an impact, but we must never rejoice in the fact that we are making an impact but rather that God is using us to bring His kingdom to this Earth, as the Lord’s prayer teachers us. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven!
If you have ever watched a small child approach the world, you see them look at everything with a great sense of wonder and joy. They rejoice in the simple fact that they have fingers, that bubbles exist, that gravity is a real thing, that a school bus drove by or that the moon is up during the day. They see these things and are grateful. These great wonders did not come from them but are gifts from God. And Christ tells us in today’s Gospel that the truth is revealed to the childlike. I pray that we can all have more of that wonder every day. And from that sense of wonder we can develop a deeper sense of gratitude to our Lord for each and every thing we have and particularly for the skills and gifts we have. I believe the more we recognize that our skills and knowledge and abilities are a gift from God, the more we will use them to serve God.
Every day we are called to Think, Talk, and Act like Jesus. When we do, we are then acting as Christ’s hands and feet. It is truly wonderful to be chosen to do God’s will. But like a small child chosen to be at the front of the line, we should not be prideful and brag about our place, but rather be grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for choosing us to do His will in this way.
- AJ Grimm