contextualizing power
"Jesus now called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority to overcome all demons and to cure diseases." —Luke 9:1
As members of Christ's Church, we have "power and authority to overcome all demons and to cure diseases." Therefore, it should be a daily occurrence for us to see people healed and to quickly crush Satan under our feet (Rm 16:20). Yet, we live in Satan's culture of death in the midst of thousands of sick people. How can this be if we have power and authority over all demons and diseases?
We are obviously not using the power Jesus has given us. Our ignorance and sinfulness disrupt the order of power and the ecology of authority. We have power and authority in the context of proclaiming the kingdom of God (Lk 9:2). Moreover, our proclamation of God's kingdom should be in the context of taking "nothing for the journey" (Lk 9:3). When we have left ourselves nothing to depend on but our heavenly Father and are proclaiming God's kingdom and not ours, we will see our dormant power and authority awaken. Then we will see demons and diseases driven out of people's lives.
We have God's power. We must choose to put this power in the context of evangelization, faith, and Gospel poverty. In this context, our power will be activated. Live the Gospel life. Use your power.
Prayer: Father, may I choose the way of living that makes it possible for me to use fully the power You have given me.
Promise: "And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the Lord our God, Who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in His holy place; thus our God has brightened our eyes." —Ezr 9:8
Praise: Tanya was astonished to see how quickly God responded to the prayers of her children.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Be Holy, for I Am Holy.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 4, 2013
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