REFLECTIONS TODAY
When they return from their mission, the seventy-two disciples can report to Jesus, “Mission accomplished.” They are happy to share that they were given hospitality in villages where they healed the sick with the power given them by Jesus. And probably to their great surprise, even the demons were subject to them because of Jesus’ name. Jesus rejoices at the success of his disciples; it means that the strong man — Satan — is beginning to lose his power to the stronger man, Jesus (Lk 11:22).
However, Jesus tells his disciples that rather than rejoicing over power over the spirits, they should rejoice because their names are written in heaven. Because they belong to Jesus, God has written their names upon the palms of his hands (Is 49:16). This is their ultimate security. Power is temporary; it may even lead them to pride and abuse, thinking that it comes from them rather than the Lord. But to have one’s name written in heaven is to have the security of God’s protection as his beloved child. Not even failure, weakness, or death can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord (Rom 8:35-39).
Gospel • Lk 10:17-24 [or Lk 1:26-38]
The 72 disciples returned rejoicing, and said, “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.”
At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.