In yesterday’s reading, Jesus’ message in his hometown of Nazareth did not end so well, with his fellow Nazoreans running him out of town (Lk 4:29). In today’s account, Jesus has walked twenty-five miles south and enters the synagogue at Capernaum. The initial reaction to Jesus’ teaching was similar in both accounts; the people were “amazed” and “astonished” with his teaching. But no one in either group makes the bold statement that arises today: “I know who you are – the Holy One of God” (Lk 4:34)! This phrase was professed by a demon who taunted Jesus.
From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry opposition was present. In Nazareth, the fallen nature of our humanity reared its head. The people he grew up with were unwilling to see beyond the ordinary Jesus they always knew. Wasn’t he just the son of Joseph, just the carpenter? Jesus was safe when he merely worked a quiet life, participated in the life of the synagogue, even when he returned from surrounding territories amidst words of praise, and even stepping up to read in the synagogue from the words of Elijah: he was the hometown boy making good!
But once Jesus began to equate himself in the line of the prophets and share how God was working beyond the people of Israel, with his accounts of Elijah going to the Gentile widow, and Naaman, another Gentile, going to Elisha, highlighting that God worked beyond the people of Israel, even his own had enough. Jesus had to go (Lk 4:29).
Today’s source of opposition was the taunting demon. Jesus rebuked the demon immediately. With he authority of his word, he called him out of the man. Jesus faced time and again the fallen nature of humanity, disbelief, lack of faith, as well as the opposition of demons, and the temptations of Satan himself in the desert. He was also opposed by most of the religious establishment of the Sadducees, Pharisees, and scribes.
Where do we find our self in the scenes of Jesus’ ministry and teaching, in our own time today?
Following Jesus is a day to day, moment by moment, decision by decision, thought by thought, commitment and we must be willing to face the same challenges that his disciples did. We are faced with the challenges of first being willing to receive Jesus’ teaching and then living up to them, while at the same time, facing our weaknesses, wounds, sins, and shortcomings as we seek to resist the lies of the enemy and conform our lives to the will of our Father. By doing so, we will be confronted with the darkness and sin within ourselves. With true humility, we will be better able to resist defending and rationalizing where we fall short of the glory of God and instead repent, turn away from our sin, turn back to God, and receive forgiveness and healing.
We also need to resist dismissing Jesus’ encounter with the demon in today’s Gospel too quickly. Demons do exist and play a role in the principalities and powers that influence us and our world. We ignore this reality to our own peril, for they will tempt and subtly attack us at our weakest and most vulnerable points. This is not a cause for anxiety and fear. The weakest Christian is stronger than the devil himself but we must be aware and vigilant. When faced with temptation by Satan or his demons, we just call on the name of Jesus and those of the dark will flee from the radiant light of Christ. This is why it is so important to regularly examine our conscience, to be aware of the internal voices and influences we are opening ourselves to. Bringing our emotions and thoughts into the light of Jesus and the purifying fire of the Holy Sprit, that which is of God will remain and that which is not will be loosed.
The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we experience his light and the more of our sin is revealed. This is not a cause to run and hide but to humbly stand firm and embrace the truth so that forgiveness and healing will happen. This also means that we will see more clearly the dark influences that plague our own thoughts and negative influences which we are blinded to when we turn in upon ourselves and feed our own selfishness, embrace our own pride, and allow ourselves to get caught up in anxieties, fear, and the influences of the fallen world.
Choosing to believe in and entrust our lives to Jesus with our first waking breaths and thoughts is an important way to begin each day. Doing so helps us to get ahead of the thoughts that will arise to distract, divert, and dissuade us from hearing the word and guidance of God. Beginning our day in quiet with Jesus is also important to do before we get up and running and return to the daily busy. When we resist moving on automatic pilot, we can realize that we can live our lives more intentionally. Moving more thoughtfully and seeking God’s guidance we can react less so to choose his will more.
When we fall short, are distracted, fail, as did the apostles, it is important not to follow Judas, but Peter: repent and confess our love for Jesus, and begin again. Acknowledging that Jesus is at hand, he will help to hold us accountable. Experiencing his support, we will be in a better position to be there for others and love them as we have been loved. Even when we find ourselves in our darkest moments, we can turn to Jesus and stand firm for he is our refuge and our strength, and he will fight for us.
Photo: A wonderful place to be still, hear, meditate, ponder, and pray with the word of God and better know his will and receive his love and guidance.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 