But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent” (Lk 4:43).
Jesus himself, the Son of God incarnate, fully divine and fully human, is the wedding of heaven and earth in his very person. His work of preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out demons, shows that the divine flow of the Father’s Love is infused into our fallen human condition. Jesus came to restore unity to that which had been divided and once he began his public ministry, he was ever on the go. “As Jesus’ ministry of exorcism and healing unfolds, the kingdom of God advances and the devil’s dominion must retreat” (Gadenz, 108).
Through our Baptism, we have been conformed to and indelibly marked by Jesus and for Jesus. We are nourished by his Body and Blood in the Eucharist and we’re empowered through the laying on of hands by the bishop at our Confirmation. We have been divinized, grafted into the life of God through our participation in the life of Jesus the Christ. We too then are priests, prophets, and kings as we participate in his life. We also are, to preach and teach the same Gospel, to be his healing and comforting presence, to make Jesus present to those in our midst, and yes we too are called to cast out all demons, and to shine the light on negativity, dehumanization, and division in his name. As James teaches, we are to “submit [our]selves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee” (James 4:7).
Jesus did not travel very far during his three and a half years of public ministry, yet his teachings have touched many corners of the world. That is because of those who have encountered him, said yes to his invitation, submitted to the will of his Father, and continued to spread his teachings and life in each generation. We too are called to experience “a resurrected new life”, just as the mother-in-law of Peter did. And what did she do once she was healed? Out of gratitude, she immediately rose and served him. She mirrored Jesus in her willingness to serve (cf. Gadenz, 107).
Moment by moment, in each circumstance, we are invited to surrender to the will of his Father, and follow the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit. Each ascent of our will to the guidance of the Trinity is an embrace of the gift of the unique vocation we are called to put into practice. The time of fulfillment is now because Jesus is present in our midst, he is at hand. So let us repent and believe in the Gospel, (cf. Mk 1:15). Let us follow the lead of Jesus that we read about each day.
These are not just nice stories. They are invitations for transformation by participation in his life. By reading, meditating, and praying with these scriptures, we deepen our relationship with Jesus and begin to experience the love of the Holy Spirit. We are given clearer sight to know God’s will and about what to let go of that holds us back from a more intimate union with our Father. Each day is a new opportunity to learn from Jesus, follow his guidance, and be advocates of his love and healing in the unique expression he has given us to share! Let us like, Peter’s mother-in-law, arise, serve, and collaborate with Jesus to advance his kingdom.
Painting: Blessed to spend the month of July in another town, Grand Coteau, LA taking a deeper dive into the grace filled Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Gadenz, Pablo T.. The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 