The Light of Christ

September 2: Tuesday of Week 22 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14; Luke 4:31-37

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship?

The Light of Christ

“The Spirit scrutinizes everything.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

Things aren’t the way they seem. Where we see law, order, and a desirable way of life, God frequently sees the fruit of justice perverted for personal gain; the disorder of an unequal society; and comfortable lifestyles dependent on neglecting the needs of the poor.

Paul says those who are formed by the culture “do not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God. To them it is foolishness. They cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually.” Christians, however, “have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.” Those gifts let us see what is not right in the world. We need to use them as “faithful stewards” by taking responsibility for bringing about change.

Let’s be clear about it: poverty is the work of the devil. Wherever there are poor, the devil is triumphing in the hearts of all those who are not trying to do anything about it. The “rich man” who went to Hell in Luke 16:19 was guilty only of ignoring the poor man outside his gate.

To bring about inertia the devil uses two tools: selfishness and hopelessness. But Jesus “commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out.” If we are not selfish, we need to have confidence and act.

PRAY: “The Lord is just!”

PRACTICE: Look around with love. Notice.