Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Years ago, I met an American missionary who was assigned to Haiti. His main ministry there was as an aide to a priest who did exorcisms. The stories the missionary told of his time there were crazy, wild, and fascinating much like the story in today’s Gospel of Jesus and the man with an unclean demon. We learn about Jesus’ power and authority as he tells the demon to be quiet and come out of the man. The witnesses there were amazed at what happened and speculated as to who Jesus was. Unlike the missionary I met, we may never see such a spectacular feat, so what can this Gospel passage mean for us today?
From this Gospel reading, we can learn to trust in God. If Jesus Christ can call a demon out with six words, what more can he do for us in our time of need? Such trust requires faith. We read about people who were amazed at what Jesus did. However, such amazement does not necessarily lead to faith. Hence, we are called to move from being amazed at what Jesus has done for us to having faith that Jesus continues to work in our lives.
Additionally, the townspeople of Capernaum were stunned by Jesus’ teaching. Likewise, we too can be shocked by what Jesus says and teaches us. For example, from the past couple of weeks, Jesus said these astonishing things in the Gospel readings:
- “Sell what you have and give to the poor.” Matthew 19:21 (August 18)
- “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24 (August 19)
- “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 (August 20), cf. Luke 13:30 (August 24)
- “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 (August 21)
- “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 (August 23)
- “Stay awake!” Matthew 24:42 (August 28)
We are invited to take Scripture to heart, to really see how God is speaking to us and calling us to act and be.
Therefore, let Scripture guide us and let our trust in God grow.
—Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI