Word to the Wise
Saturday, October 5, 2019 - Saturday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
[Bar 4:5-12, 27-29 and Luke 10:17-24]The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven." [Luke]
The evangelist Luke was writing for a church that saw itself as missionary in nature, and much of his portrait of Jesus is written in that light. Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples, a number that reflects the list of seventy-two known nations at the time as stated in Genesis 10. He gave them power over demons and illness to assist in their proclamation of the Kingdom of God. All of this can be exciting if one ignores all the trials and challenges of missionary work in that day (or even in our own day). St. Paul gives some pretty frightening lists in 2 Corinthians! The excitement of the disciples in their ministry, however, carried a danger. They could get so excited about the "power" they had, that they might forget the message they were commissioned to preach!
Baptist confers considerable power on all of us. Some of us are called to exercise an additional role as ordained priests to serve in a sacramental role and preach, but that does not excuse the rest of the baptized from the task of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Pope Francis has challenged all who are baptized to be missionaries. If we take this challenge seriously, we may be surprised at the "power" that we have. However, the power is not a possession but rather the power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts through faith in Christ. And we shall have to give an account of how we use it! AMEN