5 February 2015 - kingdom authority

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

We receive authority, too! It isn't just the Twelve. It isn't even just them and their successors the bishops, priests, and deacons of the Church. We are all members of a kingdom which is not of this world (cf. Joh. 18:36). We are all royal (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9). We are all caught up in this battle which "is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (cf. Eph. 6:12). Will all have to deal with "unclean spirits" in one way or another.

We confront unclean spirits in ourselves. We aren't pushovers because we have kingdom authority. "God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline" (cf. 2 Tim. 1:17). We need this because "the whole world is under the control of the evil one" (cf. 1 Joh. 5:19). When we are part of the kingdom of darkness and not the kingdom of light this includes us. But Jesus brings us into the kingdom of light. 

No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and countless angels in festal gathering,
and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,
and God the judge of all,
and the spirits of the just made perfect,
and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and the sprinkled Blood that speaks more eloquently
than that of Abel.

It is not just to a place we come, but primarily to a person, to Jesus himself. By the power of his precious blood he fills us with himself. He has overcome the world (cf. Joh. 16:33). He is stronger than the one who is in the world (cf. 1 Joh. 4:4). This is how we have authority. It is his own authority in us.

But this authority is not for ourselves alone. We see brothers and sisters throughout the world who find themselves at the mercy of the kingdom of darkness. Oftentimes they don't even know it. But they suffer. They think they are free because they give free reign to their passions. But they are thereby enslaved. Unclean spirits hold the hostage. We have the authority to speak to them words of power which can set them free. How can we hold back from offering so great a gift? We can help to heal. We can help to bring freedom. It isn't necessary all overtly miraculous (though it is always actually miraculous). It is often just the small words, gestures, and actions which the Holy Spirit inspires in us. Let us give him, and not our passions, free reign.

So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Let us all find our place in the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Let us all fully enter the kingdom of light where the darkness no longer has any power over us.

As we had heard, so have we seen
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
In the city of our God;
God makes it firm forever.