But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.
This is the truth. But it is not the word of truth which bears fruit and grows throughout the world. We can speak right words for the wrong reasons. We can do great harm by saying things which are technically true. It is possible to speak the letter and to disregard the Spirit.
When we worry about what we are going to say we close ourselves to the words the Holy Spirit wants to teach us. Then we tend to become defensive. We use the truth, the word of God, "sharper than any two-edged sword" (cf. Heb 4:12) as a weapon against others rather than against our real enemy. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (cf. Eph. 6:12). This can take insidious forms that are hard to notice. We use the word to judge others to take the focus off of ourselves. We use the word selectively in ways which do not invite to repentance but instead only condemn.
If we are open to the Holy Spirit, open to the word of truth, the word of God, we are constantly reminded of "the hope reserved for you in heaven." Because of this we do not need to become defensive. That is why this hope allows us to have love "for all the holy ones". We read that the Colossians have this love for one another precisely because of their hope in heaven.
Jesus speaks with authority and not as one of the scribes (cf. Mat. 7:29) precisely because he is constantly and completely open to the Holy Spirit. This is why his word rebukes fevers, why his hands heal disease, and why demons and driven screaming from his presence. He never becomes defensive. His words never become weapons. They are always an invitation. To make love and mercy available is the desire of his heart.
“To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
Jesus goes to the deserted place to recuperate. But he does not hide there. Nor is he content to remain where the work is already done. He is open to the Spirit. He himself is the word which bears fruit throughout the world. This is possible because he has a hope beyond this age. His hope is firmly in heaven. He desires nothing other than to please his Father.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.
Let us open ourselves to the word of truth. Let us welcome it actively, right now. Let us read and reread it. This word teaches us to hope. The hope we learn can transform our tendency to be selfish. It can make us like Jesus, words that bear fruit throughout the world.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (cf. Col. 3:1-2).
No comments:
Post a Comment