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.”
At that very
moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise
and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has
been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the
Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to
the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did
not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
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Reflection:
Long time ago
there was a religion that had a penchant for arrogantly showing their
influence. They would boast that they are the true religion and that nobody
would go to heaven except their members. Instead of attracting others to join
them they were instead shunned by those they thought could be their future
members. Eventually this religion stopped growing until it died a natural death.
What could
attract people to join a religion? It’s certainly not arrogance but childlike humility.
Arrogance is disliked by many as opposed to humility which is very
much liked by the majority. Humility is like a magnet that attracts and gains
the sympathy of people.
For example,
would you prefer to belong to a religion that arrogantly flaunts its misplaced
influence? Of course not! Would you prefer to befriend an arrogant person or a
humble person? Of course, you would prefer to befriend the humble one.
In like
manner, we could bring more people to our faith and we would become more
effective fishers of men. If we live humility and if we become breathing
example of Jesus’ humility. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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