Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday of 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, August 31st, 2021
Texts: 1 Thess. 5:1-6.9-11; Ps.27:1.4.13-14; Luke 4:31-37
We need to encourage one another to continue standing, to continue to be good. It is in the nature of man to get tired and to lose interest in things. St. Paul is aware of sustaining power and energy that comes from the encouragement and support of others. This is clear when he says, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." This shows that no one can make it alone, no one can make it in isolation. We can only make it as a body, as members of a body. The only body we need to make it to heaven is the body of Christ, the Church. In the Church we encourage ourselves with the words of God and nourished ourselves with the body and blood of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
It is in the Church that we have what it takes to wait for the Lord's coming. St. Paul reminds us today that no one knows the day of our Lord's coming; His coming is going to be sudden. This tells us to be ever ready and prepared. We should always be at alert. To be at alert means to be found always doing what is expected of us as Christians. He says, "then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober." We are not to rest from living rightly, we are not to rest from works of faith and labour of love, we are not to rest from being steadfast in hope. He asks us to be sober, that is, we are to be fully aware and in charge of our thoughts and actions. We are not to be controlled by passion or some external forces such alcohol. The marks of sobriety are self-control and self-discipline. We are to be self-controlled and self-disciplined in our ways of life.
St. Paul goes further to tell us that we are not to be afraid of the day of our Lord's coming because we are children of light and of the day. We are children of light and of the day when we have nothing hidden, when we do not entertain evil. We are children of light and of the day because our hearts are pure and we harbour no evil in our hearts.
The gospel reading shows Jesus Christ teaching us in the Church. It is said, "Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath; and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority." Whenever the word of God is read and explained, Christ continues to teach us. In the Church we encourage ourselves with the words of Jesus Christ.
The gospel reading also shows Jesus Christ freeing us from the control of evil spirits. Being free from the control of evil spirits, we are able to be sober. The power and authority of Christ to drive away evil spirits continue in the Church in the exercise of exorcism. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is said, "When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing. ... Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church" (1673). The Church free her members from demonic possession that they might be sober.
True Light of the world, Lord Jesus Christ, as you enlighten all men for their salvation, give us grace, we pray, to herald your coming by preparing the ways of justice and of peace. Amen (Today's Office, Morning Prayer).
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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