“The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, ‘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.’” (Luke 10: 17-20)
The joy in discipleship is not in authority over demonic power, but in the citizenship of God’s Kingdom. In today’s Gospel, we get an understanding of revelation and how it works in Jesus’ ministry. The kingdom of heaven is shared among Jesus’ disciples. It is a kingdom of power over all forms of evil. It is a kingdom in which those who are a part of it are privy to knowledge of the Father because the Son (whom only the Father knows) chooses to whom he will reveal it. It is the “childlike” who are chosen for this revelation. God’s kingdom and the understanding therein, are for those with whom the Son shares it. Again, Jesus teaches us about the humility necessary to be his disciple. They are able to “tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy” because of Christ alone.
We were chosen by God and all we have has been given to us by God. Our discipleship is strengthened by our willingness to receive and be taught. The more we are open to God, the more he will reveal to us about his Father and about ourselves. Let us be open to all that God has in store for us. Let us allow “the dawn from on high” to “break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1: 78-79) May we always rejoice that our names are written in heaven!!
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