THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Tuesday of 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time, 2021

1Thes 5:1-6, 9-11

Ps 27

Luke 4:31-37

I Know who you are...

Dear friends in Christ, is it enough to claim knowledge of Jesus if a person does not live according to his teachings?

Our first reading (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11) is a clear reminder of the truth of our faith. Paul tells us that Christ died for us that we might live with him. He calls us to be sober and awake as children of light. We are destined for salvation and it is in that knowledge we must continue to live as Christ taught us.

The Gospel passage (Luke 4:31-37) presents a demoniac who fraudulently claims to know Jesus. Even though he had the right answer, he does not posses the right Spirit. The occasion presented itself in the Synagogue. Following the rejection of Jesus in Nazareth and the attempt on his life, he settled in Capernaum which became now his hometown and the Centre of his ministry (Matt.9:1). On a Sabbath day, he went to the Synagogue where all those present were astonished by the authority with which he proclaimed the word. There was also a man possessed by the demon who shouted, "Ah! What have you come to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." The demon in him recognised Jesus as the Holy One, but his knowledge claim, was false. To know Jesus, is to desire the good, to live as He taught us, and as He lived. We cannot rule out that, there are many people today, whose knowledge of Jesus and of the faith is simply 'book knowledge' or 'reported knowledge,' devoid of personal experience. There are people who go to church, because they have been brought up to do so, and not making the effort to truly come to the right knowledge of the faith they profess. For some of such people, it becomes easy to drift from one place to another. They are the ones who do not see the difference in living an authentic Christian life, and just being a Christian in name. In fact they are the ones who criticise those who are making efforts at living out the gospel truth. Whenever they attend church activities, they want to be where everyone can see them. They claim to know Jesus but they need to be purged of the evil that characterises their way of living. Where exactly are you? On the day of Baptism, you rejected satan and all his works and pomps. How come your life is lived in the shadow of evil?

Let us pray: Lord, rid me of every form of evil. Help me to radiate your light wherever I go. Amen. 

+Remain blessed