Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
Jesus wants us to rely on the power and authority that he gives us. Having an abundance, even if that just means a walking stick, a sack, food, money and a second tunic, tends to make us self-reliant. We believe that we have something to lose and become self-protective. It seems obvious to us that if we don't manage these resources well we may well end up with nothing. And Jesus is not calling us to be poor stewards of our resources. But he does want us to be a people who can trust in him and be confident even in situations where we our ability to provide for and take care of ourselves is not at all guaranteed.
give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
We can learn what it means to store up treasure in heaven (see Matthew 6:19-21) when we begin to discover that all riches are already ours in Christ Jesus.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19)
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27)
Relying on the power and authority of Christ more than on our possessions, abilities, and talents, is how we discover the true riches that are ours, not as earned, but as a gift, as our inheritance in Christ.
The Lord "is a shield to those who take refuge in him." His words are trustworthy. They have proven effective again and again in the lives of those who follow him and they can be a lamp for our feet as well. The authority we have in Christ, and our ability to take refuge in him, are grounded in his word. Saint Jerome tells us that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. So too is ignorance of Scripture ignorance of the authority we are given. In this sense knowledge truly is power. Ignorance of his word prevent us from taking refuge in him because it is precisely in his word that we learn where and how to take refuge in him. We are not entirely ignorant, having read these readings. But do we believe them? Only if we trust in them as does the psalmist will we find in them the same comfort as he.
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
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