Ordinary Time

Pause

Life gets noisy. Sit for a moment in the eye of your storm. Close your eyes. Feel and hear yourself breathe.

Take absolute confidence in one thing — God’s got this.

This moment, this day, this life — God’s got this.

Listen

The seventy-two returned joyously, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us in your name.”

Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Look, I have given you authority to crush snakes and scorpions underfoot. I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:17-20

Think

I live in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Here, we are known for many things — hiking trials, scenic views, wonderful waterfalls and, yes, in a few places, snake handling. There are believers in my mountains that celebrate today’s verses quite literally.

I think what Jesus is saying here goes beyond that literal interpretation. Jesus is recognizing the euphoria of his returning followers — “Lord even the Demons submit…” by basically saying, “Of course they do! You do get who I am, right?”

Jesus brings his followers’ experiences into context by saying, don’t get too caught up in the showy stuff — rejoice that you know me as Savior. Sometimes, I get caught up in the showy stuff of life and faith. I get a little prideful and think my perspective is THE only perspective. It’s best to just focus on the basics — being Jesus’ follower and doing his work.

Bill Ogletree

Pray

Lord, help me to get beyond the showy in life. Let me do your work in every opportunity I meet today. Amen.

Go

Mother Teresa once wrote that we can let God’s grace work in our souls by accepting whatever God gives us and giving whatever God takes from us. She says: “True holiness consists of doing God’s work with a smile.”