Of whom should I be afraid?

Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Lk 4:31-37
Notes: Fear is common. Fear is helpful even.

I would say as, a young person, fear kept me from doing some pretty stupid things!

In today’s gospel message, we come to realize that we should not fear the LORD. Whoever we are and whatever we have done, the LORD is interested in restoring our well-being. Jesus hears us even when we cannot speak for ourselves!

Yesterday, in the gospel reading Jesus was attacked for various reasons but one reason stands out that reveals the mercy of G-d.

Jesus reminded them that:

• In the time of Elijah, it was the foreigner widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon that received the aid of food.
• In the time of Elisha, the prophet, it was the foreigner and hated enemy Naaman the Syrian who was healed of leprosy.

In today’s gospel portion, Jesus heals the demon possessed. Even evil cannot the LORD from healing this man.

For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Foreigner.
Enemy.
Demon Possessed.

You are not far from the healing hands of the LORD.
Reach out and up to the LORD in confidence all your troubles and your hopes and dreams!

• Do not feel a foreigner with the LORD.
• Do not feel an enemy of the LORD.
• Do not permit evil to dominate your life and allow the healing hand of the LORD be with you.

Look again at the demon’s words and realize beneath those words are the silent words of the one possessed. The story is about Jesus overcoming evil in the witness and power sense of things. More personally and more importantly, the story is about answering this man’s silent hope!

The silent hope of the possessed man:

What can you do for me, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to heal me? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

Jesus rebuked [the evil demon] and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon … came out of him without doing him any harm.

This is why we can repeat the psalmist’s confident praise!

The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?

First Reading
For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

Responsorial
I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

Gospel Acclamation
A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

Gospel
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry