Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Yr 2 2024
Ordinary Time • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsJob learned that he could not figure God out and that in changing his mind and becoming like a trusting child he had a relationship deeper than he could understand. Jesus tells the 70 not to be impressed by the power he has given them over the demonic, extensive though it was. It was all based on trust in him and their relationship to the Father and that is what is important. The 70 were the childlike in their trust and obedience and in that they received the revelation of the Father through the Son. So we should not be impressed with mighty works, but rather seek nothing but the Father . Then the demons will tremble but we may well not notice.
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Title
Title
Becoming Loving Trusters
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Outline
Job had fought a good theological battle
Job had fought a good theological battle
In the midst of intense suffering he had stayed committed to God. He had tried to find meaning in his suffering, knowing that he was righteous so far as he knew and realizing that this was not the reward he was expecting. He thought that if he could only discuss it with God it would be clear that a mistake had been made.
Job learns that he was speaking out of his ignorance and opening his mouth when he really did not understand. And, due to a revelation of God he knew: “By hearsay I had heard of you, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.” This is a change of mind, the tribal elder becomes like a child who does not understand.
And then God blesses Job in the only way he could understand, i.e. with children, wealth, and status.
Jesus sees the seventy learning this lesson
Jesus sees the seventy learning this lesson
They are impressed with how “because of your name” even the demons were subject to them. Jesus agrees, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.” He goes on to say that he has given them power over the demonic so that “nothing will harm you.” But this is no big thing. The big thing is their belonging to the heavenly realm, to them Father: “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Then he surprises us with a prayer. The wise and learned don’t understand but these do by revelation because they are “childlike,” they have trusted and obeyed Jesus. Everything was done in the name of Jesus and by his command.
This is because, “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.”
There we have the key to fruitful ministry.
There we have the key to fruitful ministry.
We boast about signs and wonders and visions and all the rest, but they are not the important thing, as I have noted most recently in the Carmelite tradition. Let go of them and focus on relationship with and love of the Father. That is role of the child.
It is not that knowing and understanding are bad - they are useful - but that real reward is “non nisi te”, relationship with the Father, and that is beyond our understanding.
In the end we must turn from our theological endeavors, serious though they are to us children, and simply long for and trust in the Father though the Son. That is what the Son has revealed. And, while we may not even notice, the powers of hell will tremble and fall.
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