More Than Knowing

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090517.cfm) reminds me that it is not enough to just know God. 

In this world, connections are powerful. Knowing a high ranking law enforcement officer or a government official can sometimes get people out of some problems in traffic and maybe even bigger ones. Knowing top executives in companies may guarantee a high position or business deals. This works in the world, but not with God. 

What works in this world do not always work with God. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus proclaiming God’s word. He was teaching in the synagogue. That time, the people still do not know who Jesus was. However, someone knew. We see that the demon inside the man knew who Jesus was. He proclaimed it. He told people about it. But Jesus was not pleased with it, and instead told the demon to be quiet and come out of the person.

Merely knowing Jesus is not enough.

Jesus knew the intention of the demon for telling who he really was – to disrupt his work in proclaiming God’s kingdom. And though he proclaimed with the lips who Jesus was, of course the heart is not one with it. His actions are not consistent with what the lips say. Knowing and saying who is Jesus is not as important as living it through our lives. If we know with our lips that Jesus is the Holy One of God, then we should also live our lives proclaiming that truth.

We all know who Jesus is. We all know who God is. That is a good thing, but not enough. God wants us to go further. God wants us not only to tell the world with our lips, but more importantly, by our lives. We need more than knowing him, but have a personal relationship with him as well. A personal relationship that will move us into action. 

May we be challenged and inspired to go beyond lip service and tell who Jesus is by our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another day to love and serve you. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for reminding me that knowing you is not enough. Thank you for reminding me that telling others about you is not enough. Sorry for the times I think it is enough to just know you and tell others about you. Sorry for stopping at that level. I ask that you Help me live my faith and knowledge of you. Help me build a personal relationship with you. May it move me into action. may I share you to others not just with my words, but with my actions and through my life as well. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 5, 2017
Lectionary: 432
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 11 THES 5:1-6, 9-11

Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.
When people are saying, "Peace and security,"
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, 
and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light 
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.
For God did not destine us for wrath,
but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep
we may live together with him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up,
as indeed you do.

Responsorial PsalmPS 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

AlleluiaLK 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, 
and he cried out in a loud voice,
"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
"What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out."
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.