+ As Jesus begins his work as “a new rabbi in town” he
sets a precedent of “prayer and work” –
the very concept that St. Benedict adopted when constructing his rule of
household Christian life in his newly formed monastery at Monte Cassino. “Ora et labora!” indeed! Jesus first had
an intense period of prayer in the desert, whereby he set-firm for himself and
the Devil, the priorities of his life: to
serve God alone, to worship him alone, to be subject to His Will alone:
which ultimately would mean a fierce and brutal Passion and Death by
Crucifixion carried out to its maximum level of severity!
He first, then, after the time
of point clarification comes to the synagogue in his home town – the local
worship site – and he reads the passage of liberation,
healing, reconciliation and peace – then tells the hearers that He is the
One by whom these things would be accomplished for the Jewish people (and
ultimately for all people everywhere). They are amazed at his words and the
authority by which he said them.
His words then of prayer, worship and honor to God (who is
his True Father who lives in heaven), are followed by actions of physical and mental healings such as the cleansing of
the man with the unclean spirit in the gospel passage today. What Jesus is
doing, is step by step, word by word, healing action by healing action building
up his credibility as who he is: Son of God come into the World to change
everything for everyone: and open a new world beyond our imagination for us to
reside in forever!
Let us take in the words of
Jesus, his actions, and his ways as we live out our own particular purpose in
life, that is always fully complementary, and integrated with His own: to heal
the world, forgive the world, and free the world from all that to that point
held it earthbound.
We must accept God’s full message
and works of reconciliation as they really are – a gift from God – rather than
some lesser plot by a human being to deceive the world. Jesus is LORD, SAVIOR
and KING of all – of the Universe. This is fact not fancy! A personal
relationship with HIM who is still very much alive, is what the “leap of faith”
produced by the will will get us!
Amen.
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