Friday, October 18, 2024

Today's Scripture
Luke 9:37–50

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.” John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.” (NRSV)

Reflection

I love a happy ending. What could be better than Jesus healing a boy and restoring him to his family and community while the onlookers are astounded at God’s greatness?

But this inspiring ending is marred by the cruelty in the words Jesus directs toward his disciples. They have dropped everything to follow him, and even though they never quite seem to get it, they aren’t “faithless and perverse,” are they? Why such harsh language?

The answer, I think, is found in Luke’s earlier passages. For several chapters, Jesus teaches his disciples in a kind of internship. First, he demonstrates — healing physical ailments, like skin diseases or paralysis, as well as spiritual, changing hearts and lives. Then, like any good teacher, he pauses to make meaning with his students, sharing familiar parables and the words we know as the Beatitudes.

This pattern continues until Jesus is certain that he’s taught his followers well. Only then does he send the disciples out into neighboring villages, giving them “power and authority over all demons and to heal sicknesses.” So when the disciples are unable to help, Jesus loses his patience.

This angry Jesus isn’t going to make it into our children’s Bibles, but perhaps adults can learn from him. Jesus empowers us, his modern-day disciples, to cast out the “demons” that plague our world, such as gun violence, food and housing insecurity, wars, discrimination, and so much more.

To be clear, Jesus does not give us the power to heal sicknesses, as he and his disciples did, but he does give us the power to do great things in his name. Perhaps we can live into that hope, confident that Jesus is still at work in our world in this generation and in all those to come.

Prayer
Holy God, help us feel your power at work in our lives. Teach us to tap into that power, using it to build a world in which all are free. Amen.

Written by Amy Pagliarella, Parish Associate for Caring Ministries

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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