[ Today's Readings ]
Everyone is looking for you.
They seek Jesus because they hear about the healings. But Jesus has more in store for those who seek him.
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Jesus does not come to treat merely the symptoms, though often he does, but also the root cause. He comes not only to give us temporary relief but true freedom. He comes to cast out fear from our lives and make suffering and death powerless over us where once they dominated us.
Jesus does this by entering into the suffering itself. He draws very near to those who suffer. He himself suffers. This union allows us to share in the hope which Jesus himself has in the Father. The resurrection begins to transform our hearts and minds. It matters less how much Jesus treats our symptoms and much more how close he comes to us in our suffering. This is the true game-changer.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.
This is not to say that we should be so spiritual that we don't ask for physical healings.
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.
Jesus does want to heal us, body, mind, and soul. When we seek him for help with one of these let us be open to his presence transforming them all. Let us learn from his presence what the demons cannot teach us by their words.
he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Let us learn to know Jesus. He shares in blood and Flesh. He shares in our suffering. The demons can never know him in this way. But we can.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
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