August 31, 2010
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
By Beth DeCristofaro
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)
…they were astonished at (Jesus’) teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. (Luke 4: 32-35)
Piety
In humility is the greatest freedom. As long as you have to defend the imaginary self that you think is important, you lose your peace of heart. As soon as you compare that shadow with the shadows of other people, you lose all joy, because you have begun to trade in unrealities and there is no joy in things that do not exist. (Thomas Merton)
Study
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” In the notes on this passage from the NAB, it is pointed out that Luke uses these chapters to show Jesus as prophet, teacher, exorcist and healer. Yet earlier in this same chapter, Jesus was expelled from the towns where he grew up. Here in Capernaum, not only does a demon recognize what the townspeople could not, Luke points to the belief that God –Jesus prominent in the struggle - would wrest the world from the control of evil. The language of the demon is antagonistic but Jesus prevails. Here, these townspeople are awed and inspired by his words and his actions.
Jesus speaks and acts not with earthly wisdom. But it is the effort to hold on to earthly wisdom which motivates those who oppose him. And Jesus allows them the freedom to reject him. He offers that freedom to us today as well. He frees the sick man from the demons who controlled him. He offers us freedom from the earthly attitudes and knowledge (not wisdom) which we cling to. He continues to speak with authority and free us each and every day.
Action
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. God’s action in our lives continues today. Take 23 minutes and listen to a revealing piece on children and religion from the program “Interfaith Voices.” Interviewing a Muslim, a Jew and an Evangelical Christian who are all 10-12 years old, the producer hears similarities in their relationship with and their reliance on God. The segment is titled “My God.” It is the second part of the show. The link is: http://www.interfaithradio.org/
